OHL announces Russian Challenge details

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

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OHL ADT CANADA/RUSSIA CHALLENGE HOST CENTRES NAMED

The Ontario Hockey league today announced details surrounding the 2006 ADT Canada/Russia Challenge that will be held in six Canadian Hockey League centres in November. OHL Commissioner, David Branch announced at a press conference, this morning, that the cities of Oshawa and Sarnia will be the two OHL host centres for the ADT Canada/Russia Challenge.

The Sarnia Sting will host the first game in the Ontario portion of the challenge series on Thursday November 23.

“We are both proud and honoured to be hosting the 2006 ADT Canada Russia Challenge in Sarnia,” said Sting Governor Robert Ciccarelli. “Our first experience hosting in 2003 proved to be very successful and we’re looking forward to repeating and improving upon that success. We will seek to make this a marquee stop on the series tour and bring an outstanding event to our season ticket holders and the community at large.”

The Oshawa Generals will play host to the second Ontario game of the annual series at the brand new General Motors Centre on Monday November 27.

“The Oshawa Generals are thrilled that we have been selected to host one of the 2006 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge games, “noted the Generals President, Trish Campbell. “Both the Generals and the City of Oshawa welcome the opportunity to showcase some of the world's finest junior hockey players in our new state-of-the-art facility, General Motors Centre.'”

All six games will be broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet with RDS televising games in Quebec.

“The Canadian Hockey League is extremely excited about hosting the fourth consecutive series between two prestigious hockey countries,” said CHL President David Branch. “This series will play a large part in the final step of identifying our country’s top players for the National Junior Team, who will compete in the World Junior Championships in Leksand and Mora, Sweden this Christmas.”

It has also been confirmed that ADT will continue for the third straight year as the title sponsor of the six-game series.

The ADT Canada/Russia Challenge has produced a new chapter in the longstanding rivalry between the two countries. Since 2002 the series has grown in attendance and has seen thousands more tune into Rogers Sportsnet’s nationally televised broadcast of each game. Last year saw the CHL win all six games of the series improving their record to 15-3 all time in the series. 2006 also saw 16 players that played for Canada's Gold medal team in last years World Junior Championships play in the CHL Canada-Russia Challenge.

The 2006 ADT Canada Russia Challenge is supported by CHL associate sponsors NAPA Auto Parts, Bank of Montreal, Reebok, Boston Pizza and Slam!

2006 ADT Canada Russia Challenge Schedule of Games

Game 1 – Monday November 20 at Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, 7:00pm (EST) Game 2 – Wednesday November 21 at Val-d’Or Foreurs, 7:00pm (EST) Game 3 – Thursday November 23 at Sarnia Sting, 7:00pm (EST) Game 4 – Monday November 27 at Oshawa Generals, 7:00pm (EST) Game 5 – Wednesday November 29 at Chilliwack Bruins, 7:00pm (PST) Game 6 – Thursday November 30 at Kamloops Blazers, 7:00pm (PST) ************************************************************