SASKATCHEWAN BID TEAM IN TORONTO

The Saskatchewan Bid Group looking to bring either the 2010 or 2012 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships to Saskatchewan is in Toronto today preparing for the last phase of the bid process, the In-person Presentation.

The group led by Saskatchewan Bid Chair Jack Brodsky and Hugh Vassos, project development consultant with Saskatoon Sports Tourism, is joined by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison and Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco. The one and a half hour presentation to the Hockey Canada site selection committee takes place Tuesday morning.

The Saskatchewan Bid was selected to proceed to the In-person Presentation following the submission of the electronic bid document on April 1. The Saskatchewan bid, which includes co-hosts Saskatoon and Regina, is up against bids from Winnipeg/Brandon and Halifax/Moncton for the 2010 Championship. For the 2012 event the competition is Toronto and Calgary/Edmonton.

"We are confident that we have submitted a strong bid that involves the entire Province including Saskatchewan's hockey community," Brodsky said. "We are proposing a great co-hosting arrangement with Saskatoon and Regina and we plan on involving hockey fans from throughout Saskatchewan in hosting this exciting international event."

"Saskatoon Sports Tourism is excited to be leading the bid to host this event and we have a good sense of what Hockey Canada is looking for when selecting the Canadian sites," Vassos said. "We have bid for this event in the past; however we truly feel that this bid represents our best efforts to bring the event back to Saskatchewan. Our bid theme is 'The World Wins with Saskatchewan' and we plan on demonstrating to Hockey Canada how everyone WINS when Saskatchewan hosts the World Junior Hockey Championship."

"These championships would be a tremendous opportunity for the Province of Saskatchewan to showcase our hospitality and our genuine love of sport," Wall said. "Showcase events such as this demonstrate Saskatchewan's ability to compete on a world level for tourism, cultural and sporting events."

Hockey Canada is expected to make a decision on both the 2010 and 2012 host sites sometime this summer. The Saskatchewan Bid Committee returns from Toronto on Tuesday evening.

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For more information, contact:

Hugh Vassos
Saskatchewan Bid Committee
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-221-0981
Email: hvassos@sasktel.net
Cell: 306-222-5392

Jack Brodsky
Saskatchewan Bid Committee
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-221-8363