(MONTREAL, QC) For the fifth consecutive year, ITECH and Hockey Canada invited children from across Canada to draw an original Canadian-themed mask design that will be worn by Team Canada’s goaltenders during the upcoming 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship in Liberec and Pardubice, Czech Republic from to .

Based on the past success of the Design-A-Mask contest, which produced unique designs worn by the likes of Marc-André Fleury, Justin Pogge and Jeff Glass, this season’s competition again generated two winners; Morgen Schinnour of Drumheller, Alberta from the 13-and-Older category, and Gabriel Coughlan of St-Jean-Chrysostome, Quebec from 12-and-Under age group.

On top of the thrill of having their designs worn by Team Canada’s netminders, the two contest winners will also receive their very own duplicate, custom-painted ITECH mask, which will be autographed by members of Canada’s National Junior Team.

The Design-A-Mask contest was part of Hockey Canada’s kick off to the hockey season, Puck Drop ’07, which ran from September 8th to October 14th. Puck Drop ’07 was a national initiative led by Hockey Canada with participation from its 13 provincial Branches, minor hockey associations and partners to celebrate the start of the 2007-08 hockey season. Each year, 550,000 registered players’ lace up the skates to participate in hockey in Canada. In fact, on an annual basis, Hockey Canada welcomes close to 80,000 new participants, including players, coaches and officials.

About Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada is the sole governing body for amateur hockey in Canada, including overseeing the national development programs for minor hockey coaches, officials and players across the country, as well as the operation of Canada’s men’s and women’s national teams and national and international hockey events held in Canada.

About Mission-ITECH Hockey
Created in May 2004 following the merger of Mission Hockey and ITECH Sport Products Inc., Mission-ITECH Hockey Ltd. has quickly become a top-tier, trend-setting hockey equipment manufacturer that competes on the global market through its central headquarters in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With two well-known and widely respected hockey brands, Mission and ITECH, the company boasts a long list of impressive professional athlete endorsements and league designations such as The Official Visor and Goalie Mask of the NHL and The Exclusive Facial Protection of Hockey Canada.