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CANADIAN REGIONAL ROSTERS ANNOUNCED
FOR 2006 WORLD UNDER-17 HOCKEY CHALLENGE
IN SASKATCHEWAN

Hockey Canada and the 2006 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Host Commitee officially announced on Wednesday the final rosters for Canada’s five Regional Under-17 Teams participating in the event, which will run from December 29-January 4, 2006 in Regina and several other Saskatchewan communities.

Canada’s five Regional Under-17 Teams at the 2006 World Under-17 Challenge are:

· PACIFIC (Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon)

· WESTERN (Manitoba, Saskatchewan)

· ONTARIO

· QUEBEC

· ATLANTIC (Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia)

for CANADIAN REGIONAL team ROSTERS participating in the 2006 World Under-17 Challenge, go to: http://www.hockeycanada.ca/e/championships/u17/2006/sked.html

The 2006 World Under-17 Challenge features ten teams, of which five are regional Canadian teams (Pacific, Western, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic) and five are international teams (Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, and USA). Rosters for the five international teams will be posted at www.hockeycanada.ca over the course of the next few weeks, as soon as they are available.

Thirteen games of the 2006 World Under-17 Challenge will be held at the Brandt Centre in Regina, including the gold and bronze medal games. Games will also be held in the satellite communities of Moose Jaw, Fort Qu’Appelle, Balgonie, Indian Head, Southey, Milestone, and Weyburn. Tickets for these games are available and on sale now through each respective community (information below).

The World Under-17 Challenge represents the first step in Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence. The five Canadian regional teams are operated by Hockey Canada’s member branches, as they identify the top Under-17 players through regional camps. Through the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, players get a first experience of international hockey and the event represents a first step in identifying and evaluating coaches and players for Canada’s National Under-18 and Junior Teams.

“The World Under-17 Challenge is a very important component of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence,” said Hockey Canada Director, Program of Excellence Blair Mackasey. “This is a first opportunity to identify, develop and evaluate future members of Canada’s National Under-18 Program and Canada’s National Junior Team.”

Seventeen of the 22 players that won gold for Canada at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship in North Dakota, were past participants at either the World Under-17 Challenge or the Canada Winter Games.

TICKET INFORMATION FOR 2006 WORLD UNDER-17 CHALLENGE
December 29, 2005 – January 4, 2006
Regina – Brandt Centre Box Office – 1-888-734-3975 or (306) 949-2577
Moose Jaw – (306) 694-5711
Fort Qu’Appelle – (306) 332-4614
Balgonie – (306) 771-2284
Indian Head – (306) 695-2742
Southey – (306) 726-2141
Milestone – (306) 436-2002
Weyburn – (306) 842-2212

November 30, 2005 NR156.05

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HOCKEY CANADA MAKES ADJUSTMENTS TO IMPROVE CANADIAN DEVELOPMENT MODEL

Hockey Canada Board of Directors has endorsed improvements to the CDM that address specific questions from the membership, in all levels of the game.

The grand-fathering provisions for 15 yr. olds who registered or affiliated to Junior clubs last season have been clarified.

A provision has been made regarding 16 year olds playing Major Junior hockey. There would be an average of four 16 year olds per team as opposed to a maximum per team.

The Board also approved a provision for of a restricted affiliation of 15 yr olds to Major Junior and Junior A / B clubs

A revision was also made for 15 and 16 year olds living in rural or remote areas. They may be allowed to participate in Junior B, C & D if no reasonable access to midget hockey is available, this will be determined at each individual branch’s discretion. The reason for this decision is so that players are not forced from the game because the area they reside in does not offer a midget program.

“We feel that the Canadian Development Model Committee has listened to the concerns of the constituents, and we are providing better interpretations of the Model,” stated Hockey Canada Office Marcel Redekop. “We are happy with the feedback we have received, and believe this is a positive step in making the model both workable and sensible.”

July 13, 2005 NR095.05

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HOCKEY CANADA LAUNCHES
ADULT RECREATION HOCKEY PROGRAM

“We are pleased to be able to offer a discounted insurance to all those players are continuing to play the great game of hockey at the adult recreational level. We hope we can bring in a new demographic of players under the Hockey Canada umbrella” stated Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson.

The benefits of the Adult Rec. Program are:

* National Governing Body
* Uniform rules
* Regional Branches -Sanction & Discipline
* Premium Insurance Benefits at Lower Rates
(approx. $23/player)
* Interactive Website
* Certified Officials
* National and International Insurance coverage

This new initiative will provide a reduced insurance cost for all established adult recreational hockey leagues. At a cost of $23 per player, there will be a substantial savings compared to what players are currently paying and will greatly enhance their coverage. This insurance package will cover head to toe medical coverage as well as dental, loss of limb, and accidental death, which is very similar to the insurance benefits our minor hockey players currently enjoy.

In addition, Hockey Canada will be conducting a variety of promotional endeavors to aid in the launching of this new program, including the chance to win a trip to Vancouver for the 2006 World Junior Championships. Also, a team from each region will have the chance to win their registration fees for free. Complete contest details will be available on the Hockey Canada website.

June 20, 2005 - NR090.05

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CANADIAN DEVELOPMENT MODEL APPROVED AT 2005 HOCKEY CANADA AGM

SAINT JOHN, NB - On May 23 , 2005, a motion on the Canadian Development Model was put forth by the Canadian Development Model Committee and was passed by the Hockey Canada Board of Directors regarding age eligibility in all levels of Junior hockey and is effective at the start of the 2005-06 season.

“We are extremely pleased with the great support from all levels of the game with regards to the direction of the Canadian Development Model,” said Hockey Canada officer Marcel Redekop. “We truly feel that this model is in the best interest of our players across the country and will help develop these players by having them play at an appropriate level.”

CANADIAN DEVELOPMENT MODEL, effective at the start of the 2005-2006 season except where noted:

1. First year eligible Midget players (15 year olds) shall only register and compete in Minor Hockey. (Second year eligible Bantam players (14 year olds) during the 2004-05 season who were registered on Junior teams will be grandfathered for the 2005-06 season.)

2. First year eligible Midget players (15 year olds) who believe they are ‘exceptional’ and should be excluded from the previous provision may appeal to play Major Junior hockey under the provisions and conditions outlined in the Canadian Development Model Agreement.

3. First year eligible Midget players (15 year olds) shall not be permitted to register and play as affiliate players with Major Junior or Junior Hockey teams.

4. Second year eligible Midget Players (16 year olds) shall register and participate in Junior Hockey under the following guidelines:

Major Junior: Each team is allowed to register and play four (4) players in 2005-06, three (3) players in 2006-07 and there will be a league cap of forty (40) players in the Western Hockey League, forty (40) players in the Ontario Hockey League, and forty (40) players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2007-08
Junior A: Each team is allowed to register and play two (2) players in 2005-06, two (2) players in 2006-07, and zero (0) players in 2007-8, except those from a Major Junior Team that have re-assigned by a Major Junior League from within their cap. . (First year eligible Midget players (15 year olds) during the 2004-05 season who were registered on Junior teams will be grandfathered for the 2005-06 season and are to be counted in Junior team’ s two (2) players. If a team had more than two (2) such players in 2004-05, they may register and play these players provided no new sixteen year olds are registered by the team for 2005-06.)
Junior B: Each team is allowed to register and play two (2) players in 2005-06, two (2) players in 2006-07, and zero (0) players in 2007-08.
Junior C and D: Each team is allowed to register and play one (1) local player in 2005-06, one (1) local player in 2006-07, and one (1) local player in 2007-08. The definition of local shall be that contained in the Canadian Development Model Agreement. These local players shall not affiliate to any higher category team.
5. Second year eligible Midget Players (16 year olds) may be named as an affiliate player with both a Major Junior team and a Junior A or B team in the same season. The total number of rostered and affiliated second year midget players (16 year olds) eligible to participate in a game shall be no more than the number outlined in 4. a-d (above)

6. Second year eligible Midget Players (16 year olds) are permitted to play an unlimited number of games as an affiliate after January 10. Permanent affiliates, as defined in the Canadian Development Model agreement, are not permitted.

7. Third year eligible Midget Players (17 year olds) are permitted to play an unlimited number of games as an affiliate after January 10. Permanent affiliates, as defined in the Canadian Development Model agreement, are not permitted.

8. The maximum number of non-North American players that can register and play Major Junior Hockey shall be one (1), starting in the 2007-08 season.

9. Major Junior Hockey shall establish by 2007-08 the maximum number of American players by team or league that can register and play on Canadian based teams.

An additional motion was passed to increase the number of active cards from 21 to 23 for all Junior teams.

The Canadian Development Model Committee will present , for approval by Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors, an initial Canadian Development Model Agreement that will include a process for the ‘exceptional player’ application, a definition of a local player for Junior C and D, and permanent affiliates.

This agreement will be expanded over the next year to address a number of other issues that are currently under discussion by the Committee.

During the next review of the Constitution by the Governance Committee in 2006-07 a determination will be made to keep these changes together in a single regulation or to integrate the individual parts into the pertinent regulations.

May 23 , 2005 NR077

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RENE MARCIL NEW CHAIR OF BOARD of the CHA

& 2007 EVENT LOCATIONS ANNOUNCED

SAINT JOHN, NB – Hockey Canada’s 2005 Annual General Meeting, which was attended by over 400 delegates from across Canada, concluded on Tuesday in Saint John, NB with decisions made on key issues, as well as confirmation on locations of 2007 national championships.

Hockey Canada’s AGM brings together representation from each of the 13 Hockey Canada member branches who make up the Hockey Canada Board of Directors, along with life members, representatives from various organizations, and the various Hockey Canada councils: Female, Junior, Minor, Senior and Hockey Development.

A summary of the decisions approved by the Hockey Canada Board of Directors during this year’s AGM include:

The Canadian Development Model was passed effective immediately. The age eligibility for Junior players has been restructured to a limited number of 16 year olds playing Junior hockey and no 15 year olds (with the exemption of the “exceptional player”). The number of active cards has been increased from 21 to 23.

Hockey Canada Insurance Committee secured a “National Directors & Officers Liability Insurance policy” through BF Lorenzetti and Associates for the 2005-06 season, which provides coverage for Hockey Canada’s Branches, minor hockey associations, volunteers, leagues and teams.

Hockey Canada will move ahead with the development of the World Junior A Challenge property with the first event to take place in the fall of 2006.

RENE MARCIL – NEW CHAIR OF BOARD OF HOCKEY CANADA

Allan Matthews has completed his two year term as Chair of the Board for Hockey Canada and will now assume the role of Past Chair for the next two years replacing Sheldon Lanchbery. René Marcil of St-Louis-de-France, QC is now the Chair of the Board for Hockey Canada and will hold the position for two years.

Dr. Allan Morris of Wiarton, ON was voted by the board to the position of Executive Vice-Chair for the next two years.

The Officers of Hockey Canada for the 2005-2006 season:

René Marcil - St-Louis-de-France, QC - Chair of the Board
Dr. Allan Morris - Wiarton, ON - Executive Vice-Chair
Allan Matthews - Williams Lake, BC - Past chair

Claude Allain – Gatineau, QC – Vice-char at Large

Mike Bruni - Calgary, AB - Vice-chair at Large
Ken Corbett - Carleton Place, ON - Vice-chair at Large
Jim Hornell - Grand Falls-Windsor, NF - Vice-chair at Large

Marcel Redekop - Herbert, SK - Vice-chair at Large

Hockey Canada’s council chairs for the 2005-2006 season:

Gay Hahn - Vancouver, BC - Chair – Female Council
Lorne Wilm – Central Butte, SK - Chair – Senior Council
George Kallay - Drumheller, AB - Chair – Hockey Development Council
Wayne Kartusch - Regina, SK - Chair – Junior Council
Jack Forsyth – Hartney, MB - Chair – Minor Council
Sheldon Lanchbery - Deloraine, MB - International Director
Maurice Roy - Grand Falls, NB - Referee-in-Chief

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EVENT LOCATIONS FINALIZED FOR 2007 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Bid presentations for the hosting of Hockey Canada’s 2007 National events were heard by various Hockey Canada Councils during this year’s AGM. Councils brought forth recommendations to Hockey Canada’s Board of Directors, who then approved the following event hosting locations (dates are TBD)

2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup - Prince George, BC
2007 TELUS Cup – Red Deer, AB
2007 Allan Cup – Stoney Plain, AB
2005-2006 National Championship event locations and dates are as follows:

2006 RBC Royal Bank Cup May 6-14, 2006 Streetsville, ON
2006 Allan Cup April 17-22, 2006 Powell River, BC
2006 Esso Women’s National Championship March 8-12, 2006 Sydney, NS
2006 TELUS National Midget Hockey Championship April 24-30, 2006 Charlottetown, PEI
2005 Women’s National Under 18 Championship November 9-13, 2005 Salmon Arm, BC
2006 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge Dec. 29-Jan. 4, 2006 Regina, SK

OTHER KEY DATES
Hockey Canada will celebrate its third annual ‘Hockey Canada Week’, a national celebration of the game of hockey in Canada at all levels, which will be celebrated across Canada from November 5-12, 2005.

The 2006 Hockey Canada Annual General Meeting will be held May 19-23, 2006 in St. John’s, NL.

May 24 , 2005 NR078

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2005 RBC ROYAL BANK CUP AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIP

At the 2005 RBC Royal Bank Cup awards ceremony, a special presentation was made by Canadian Junior "A" Hockey League President, Marty Knack, to Michael Olson of the Nanaimo Clippers (BC Hockey League). Michael was the recipient of the RBC Financial Group Canadian Junior "A" Player-of-the-Year Award.
Michael, 20, has just completed a very successful third season in the BCHL as the captain of the Nanaimo Clippers, who were participants in the 2004 RBC Royal Bank Cup in Grande Prairie, AB.

Michael scored 32 goals and added 38 assists in 2004-05.
The 6'0, 185lb forward will be attending St.Cloud University in 2005-06 on an athletic scholarship.

Michael Olson's Highlights for 2004-05
GP – 60
G – 32
A – 38
PTS – 70
PIM – 62
PPG – 14
SHG – 3
First on Nanaimo in power play (14) and short handed (3) goals
Second on Nanaimo in games played (60), goals (32), and points (70)
2005 - BCHL Power Poll MVP | BCHL First Team All-Star | Columbia Fuels 3 Star Island Division Winner

Player-of-the-Year
The RBC Financial Group Canadian Junior "A" Player-of-the-Year Award goes to the Canadian Junior "A" hockey player who has best combined hockey skills and achievement with community involvement during the 2004-05 season.

In addition to the Player-of-the-Year Award, six individual 2005 RBC Royal Bank Cup awards and a national scholarship were handed out at the awards ceremony.
Winners were as follows:

Most Valuable Player – Travis Friedley (Camrose Kodiaks)
Top Scorer – Mathieu Picard (Hawkesbury Hawks)
Top Forward – Mayson Raymond (Camrose Kodiaks)
Top Defencemen – Travis Friedley (Camrose Kodiaks)
Top Goaltender – Brenden Cuthbert (Weyburn Red Wings)
Most Sportsmanlike Player – Brendon Vertefeuille (Weyburn Red Wings)
RBC Financial Group Canadian Junior "A" Scholarship National Winner – Sam Colizza (Kingston Voyageurs)

May 15/05

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CANADA WILL HOST
WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP
IN 2009 AND 2012

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced on May 14th that Canada will be the host country for the 2009 and 2012 World Junior Hockey Championships.

"I was really thrilled with the decision," Bob Nicholson, President, Hockey Canada said. "You have a lot of countries who were looking at hosting the World Juniors. But what matters is that our fans are the winners here. They made this happen because of how they support the event and how they also buy tickets for non-Canadian games."

Nicholson said that Hockey Canada will announce details by this fall on a bidding process for cities to host the 2009 and 2012 World Juniors.

The 2006 World Junior Hockey Championship will take place in British Columbia (Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops) this year (Dec. 26, 2005-Jan. 5, 2006), with ticket packages in Vancouver already sold out.

Canada won the 2005 World Junior Championship in North Dakota, and has hosted the event recently in Canada: Saskatoon hosted in 1991, Red Deer in '95, Winnipeg in '99 and Halifax in 2003. Montreal hosted the tournament in 1978.

May 14, 2005

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The 2005 TELUS CUP
AWARD WINNERS

The 2005 TELUS CUP, Canada’s National Midget Championship held its Awards Banquet on April 22 in Gatineau, QC where the Championship Directorate announced all individual award winners for the 2005 TELUS Cup.

The 2005 TELUS CUP, Canada’s National Midget Hockey Championship Winners

TELUS Most Valuable Player
David Richard – Saskatoon Contacts (West)

Most Sportsmanlike
Simon Danis-Pépin – L’intrépide de Gatineau (Host)

Top Goaltender
Bobby Nadeau – Commandeurs de Lévis (Quebec)

Top Defenceman
Eric Gryba – Saskatoon Contacts (West)

Top Forward
Kyle Bortis – Saskatoon Contacts (West)

Top Scorer
Kyle Bortis – Saskatoon Contacts (West)

Esso Most Dedicated Award/Scholarship
James Murdoch – Don Mills Flyers (Central)

Semi-final action takes place on Saturday, April 23 as the Don Mills Flyers (Central) face off against the Saskatoon Contacts (West) at 2:00 pm (Eastern) and the Intrépide de Gatineau (Host) face les Commandeurs de Lévis (Quebec) at 6:00 pm (Eastern).

Both semi-final games and the Gold medal game will be broadcast on TSN/RDS, Hockey Canada’s official broadcaster. The two semi-final games will be tape delayed and shown at 8:00 pm ET and 11:30pm ET on Saturday, April 23 while the Gold medal game will be broadcast live beginning at 2:30 pm ET on Sunday, April 24.

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The Organizing Committee and Hockey Canada announced that Team Canada will play one pre-tournament game in each Kelowna and Kamloops as part of the lead-up to the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship tournament.

“These two partner communities have played significant roles in securing the tournament and these extra games. Their efforts are being rewarded and they continue to work exceptionally hard to ensure the event will be a spectacular success,” said tournament General Manager, Stuart Ballantyne.

Tickets for the Team Canada pre-tournament games will now be added to the tournament ticket packages currently available in both cities. The additional game will boost the package price an additional $20 making the new ticket package price $145 plus applicable ticketing fees. Current World Junior ticket subscribers in Kelowna and Kamloops will be offered their current World Junior seats for the Team Canada game for an additional $20. All fans wishing to attend the Team Canada game must be a World Junior ticket subscriber to qualify for this offer and only ticket packages are for sale at this time.

“We’re thrilled to host Team Canada for this game and are confident our communities will give them a welcome they won’t soon forget,” said Bud Smith, Co-Chair of the Kamloops Organizing Committee.

“For hockey fans in Kelowna, this represents recognition of our hockey heritage and the interest this community has in Canada’s Team,” said Bruce Hamilton, Co-Chair of the Kelowna Organizing Committee.

The opponents for Team Canada for these two games will come from within the World Junior seating for the Kelowna/Kamloops Division. The announcement of competitors will be made once the full pre-tournament schedule is completed and approved by the IIHF and Hockey Canada. Game dates will also be announced at a later date, but will be played between December 19 and December 24, 2005.

For ticket package information, please contact:
Kamloops – Sport Mart Place Ticketmaster Box Office @ 250-828-3339
Kelowna – Select Your Tickets Box Office @ 250-762-5050
Or order on-line at www.hockeycanada.ca

The 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship in Kamloops, Kelowna and Vancouver (Dec. 26, 2005 to Jan. 5, 2006) will mark the seventh time that this international event has been staged in Canada and the first time it will be held in British Columbia. Other years in which Canada hosted this Championship were in 2003 (Halifax, NS), 1999 (Winnipeg, MB), 1995 (Red Deer, AB), 1991 (Saskatoon, SK), 1986 (Hamilton, ON), and 1978 (Montreal, QC). Grand Forks, North Dakota hosted the event in 2005.

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