CANADA VS USA EXHIBITION ICE HOCKEY SERIES

23 February 2011

Douglas Webber Events based in Christchurch is promoting a series of games at Auckland’s Vector Arena, Christchurch’s CBS Canterbury Arena and Dunedin’s Ice Arena, late July early August.

NZIHF is unable to officially endorse this series because;

• As a member of the international ice hockey community the players need to be sanctioned to play in NZ. Hockey Canada and Hockey USA have advised me in writing the players and the teams are not sanctioned.

• We wonder if the quality of the players will live up to the hype and ticket prices

• We are concerned with the emphasis on fighting and violence in their marketing.

However we need to be realistic, despite our reservations this event will continue with or without the endorsement of the NZ Ice Hockey Federation.

It is imperative we make best use of every opportunity, so we hope to be able to work with Douglas Webber Events to promote ice hockey to potential new players and find new fans for National League during this event.

 Our official position is therefore;

 “Although the USA vs. Canada games are not sanctioned by NZIHF, we are excited to see games of this magnitude on home soil. It should be a great show.”

NEW ZEALAND ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION

GRANT HAY

PRESIDENT

president@nzicehockey.co.nz

+64 027 493 1565