Hounds won't bid for 2008 Memorial Cup

SOO GREYHOUNDS

NEWS RELEASE

************************* Hounds pass on 2008 Memorial Cup: Focus placed on successful All-Star events

With the OHL’s Memorial Cup submission deadline passing earlier today, the Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club would like to announce that they will not be submitting a formal bid to host the 2008 tournament.

After lengthy discussions the hockey club's board and management came to the conclusion that it is not in their best interest to submit a bid.

The club feels their time and resources are better served putting 100 percent focus on organizing and executing the 2008 OHL All-Star game.

The Hounds were officially awarded the All-Star game at their home opener back on October 11.

"As an organization we feel we must continue to improve and grow all aspects of our organization. We examined the OHL's guidelines for hosting the Memorial Cup and feel that at this time we are not yet prepared to meet all the criteria," explained Greyhounds President Dr. Lou Lukenda.

Lukenda went on to say that further improvements to the Hounds home arena, the Steelback Centre, will only make future bidding more realistic.

"We feel that the Steelback Centre is a great facility and will give our organization and the City of Sault Ste. Marie the ability to host various events, the first being the 2008 OHL All-Star Game. At this point and time the City is exploring the possibility of proceeding with phase 2 and 3 of the luxury suite construction, and we feel that development will only enhance future plans to host events such as the Memorial Cup."

Preparations for the 2008 All-Star game have begun and an organizing committee was present to oversee the events held this past week in Saginaw.

It is expected the Sault Ste. Marie All-Star festivities will take place sometime in January '08.

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