Bids in for World Jr. Championships after Ottawa

NEWS RELEASES

HOCKEY CANADA

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Six Letters Of Intent To Bid Received By Hockey Canada From Potential Hosts For The 2010 And 2012 IIIHF World Junior Championships

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League announced on Friday that six groups have submitted letters of intent to bid to host the 2010 and/or 2012 IIHF World Junior Championships. Hockey Canada received letters of intent from the following groups (listed in alphabetical order) prior to the deadline of noon (MT) on Friday, February 1st :

Bid Group, Bid Years Calgary/ Edmonton, AB 2012 Halifax, NS 2010, 2012 London/ Windsor, ON 2012 Saskatoon, SK 2010, 2012 Toronto, ON 2012 Winnipeg, MB 2010, 2012

The six groups interested in hosting the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2010 and/or 2012 will next have to submit their respective bids by April 1, 2008. The site selection committee will review the documentation and short-list a number of groups for in-person presentations in the spring of 2008 (date and location of presentations and number of short-listed groups to be confirmed). The bid process will finish in the summer of 2008, when the site selection committee will submit its recommendations to the Hockey Canada Board of Directors.

Hockey Canada and the CHL began the bid process for the hosting of the 2010 and 2012 IIHF World Junior Championships on October 15, 2007 by making the bid guidelines available.

Hockey Canada was awarded the opportunity to host the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship in May 2005 at the IIHF’s Annual Congress. Canada was awarded the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in May 2007 at the IIHF’s Annual Congress.

The 2010 and 2012 IIHF World Junior Championships site selection committee is comprised of Bob Nicholson (president, Hockey Canada), Dr. Allan Morris (chair of the Board of Directors, Hockey Canada), David Branch (president, Canadian Hockey League), Scott Smith (chief operating officer, Hockey Canada) and supported by a resource person, Scott Farley (director of marketing services and events, Hockey Canada). This committee will review all bids and recommend a site to Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors.

The 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship will be held in Ottawa, ON in December 2008/January 2009, the eighth time Canada will play host to the event. For more information on the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, visit www.hockeycanada.ca/ottawa2009.

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STEVE YZERMAN NAMED GENERAL MANAGER OF CANADA’S NATIONAL MEN’S TEAM FOR 2008 IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP; DOUG ARMSTRONG AND LUC ROBITAILLE NAMED ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGERS

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada announced on Monday that Steve Yzerman will renew his role as general manager of Canada’s National Men’s Team for the 2008 IIHF World Championship, May 2-18, 2008 in Quebec City, QC and Halifax, NS.

In addition, it was also announced the Doug Armstrong and Luc Robitaille will hold the positions of assistant general manager for Canada at the 2008 IIHF World Championship, the first time the flagship event of the International Ice Hockey Federation will come to Canada.

Steve Yzerman, from Nepean, ON, was Canada’s general manager at the 2007 IIHF World Championship in Moscow, Russia, leading Canada to a perfect 9-0 record and its third gold medal in five years. He also represented Canada as a player on eight occasions, winning gold medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics and 1984 Canada Cup, silver medals at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, 1989 IIHF World Championship and 1985 World Championship, and a bronze medal at the 1983 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also wore the maple leaf at the 1998 Winter Olympics and 1990 IIHF World Championship, where he was named Top Forward by the IIHF Directorate.

Yzerman retired prior to the 2005-06 NHL season after a 22-year career, all with the Detroit Red Wings. He spent 20 seasons as the Red Wings’ captain, one of the longest serving captains in professional sports history. Yzerman finished his career with 1,755 points, the sixth-highest total in NHL history, and won three Stanley Cups (1997, 1998 and 2002). He is currently in his second season as the vice-president and alternate governor with the Red Wings, working closely with their front office staff.

Doug Armstrong, who spent the past seven seasons as the general manager of the Dallas Stars, and another nine as the Stars’ assistant general manager, will join Canada’s staff for the third time at an IIHF World Championship. He was a special advisor under Yzerman for the 2007 tournament, and was assistant general manager at the 2002 IIHF World Championship in Sweden.

Luc Robitaille, who retired at the end of the 2005-06 season after 19 seasons in the NHL, represented Canada as a player on three occasions – 1994 IIHF World Championship (gold), 1991 Canada Cup (gold) and 1986 IIHF World Junior Championship (silver) – but this will be his first time representing Canada in a management role.

The Montreal, QC native is in his first season as the president of business operations for the Los Angeles Kings, with whom Robitaille spent 15 of his 19 seasons. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the Kings, and works closely with the Kings’ front office.

Yzerman, Armstrong and Robitaille will work closely with Johnny Misley, Hockey Canada’s Executive Vice-President, Hockey Operations, to oversee Canada’s player evaluation and team selection prior to the start of the 2008 IIHF World Championship. They will also be responsible for the selection of Canada’s coaching staff, which will be named in the coming months.

“Working with Hockey Canada and their staff for the world championship last year was a terrific experience, and I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to return,” Yzerman said. “Over the coming months, myself, Doug and Luc will be looking to name a coaching staff and players that will give Canada the best chance to defend their gold medal in Quebec City in May.”

“Hockey Canada is very excited that Steve Yzerman has agreed to return as Canada’s general manager for the 2008 IIHF World Championship, the first-ever world championship to be held in Canada,” said Misley. “We are confident that Steve will provide us with the leadership we need to help Canada stay on top of the hockey world.”

Canada opens the 2008 IIHF World Championship on Friday, May 2nd against Slovenia at the Halifax Metro Centre. All of Canada’s games will be broadcast live by TSN/RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada.

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