One of Canada's best-known female hockey players has put her weight behind a new social networking site that takes new strides to ensure young girls are protected and safe while online.

Olympic gold medalist Cassie Campbell is endorsing annesdiary.com. She told CTV's Canada AM the site uses unique security features to protect users and keep predators out, including fingerprint technology.

"The only people who can get on the site are little girls because they can get on through using their fingerprint," Campbell said.

"And much like a passport where you have to have a doctor or a lawyer or someone of extreme significance to get your passport authorized, this is the same way this works. So it's just a secure, safe website for girls."

The site, which carries the slogan "Discover a magical place and find kindred spirits all over the world," is geared for girls from Grade 1 to Grade 8.

Those who register for the site receive a kit in the mail that includes a membership card, a fingerprint authenticator and a copy of "Anne of Green Gables," the book that inspired the website.

Campbell said annesdiary.com is the first secure social networking for children. But in addition to safe and secure social networking, the site offers games, homework help, tutorials and a book club.

"Basically it's a website that sort of stimulates the girls to be creative. They can write a journal, they can speak to other girls all over the world," Campbell said.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and hockey commentator said she is connected to the website in several ways. In addition to wanting to protect and inspire young girls, she said she is actually related to Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables.

"So there are many ways I'm associated with this program and it's going to be great," Campbell said. "And maybe down the road we'll have something for young boys as well. Anne's Diary was the first one and it's for young girls and that's why I'm a part of it."

Campbell, who was inducted this year into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, was captain of the Canadian women's hockey team during the 2002 and 2006 Olympics. The team took gold medals home from both tournaments.

She is originally from Richmond Hill, Ont.