TORONTO, Ont. – The 2010 Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit steering committee, comprised of National
Hockey League deputy commissioner Bill Daly, Hockey Canada president/CEO Bob Nicholson, USA Hockey executive
director Dave Ogrean, International Ice Hockey Federation general secretary Horst Lichtner, Canadian Hockey
League commissioner Dave Branch, National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) chief of business
affairs Mike Ouellet and Molson Coors director of sports & entertainment Pat McEleney announced today
details of the seven sessions that will provide the backdrop for the four-day Summit, August 23-26, in
Toronto.
The World Hockey Summit will dissect the current state of hockey at all levels and collaboratively
identify and address key concerns and issues facing the game today. The Summit’s theme, Global Teamwork
Promoting the Growth of the Game, will be brought to life through interactive seminars, presentations, and
discussions led by a who’s who of the global hockey world from the IIHF, NHL, NHLPA, Hockey Canada, USA
Hockey, and the CHL. Perspectives will also be shared by a number of current and former NHL players.
The Summit begins with a reception followed by a series of interactive “hot stove” sessions at the Hockey
Hall of Fame on Monday, August 23 (7-10 p.m.). The sessions will address the state of the game on a variety
of levels around the world.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will take part in an interactive Q&A session at a luncheon on Wednesday,
August 25, while IIHF president Rene Fasel will be available for a similar session on August 24.
The Summit is open to the public and registration information can be obtained online at www.worldhockeysummit.com.
Each session will be entirely interactive and feature guest speakers and panelists from across the hockey
world. The session topics will include: Player Skill Development; Junior Development in the World; Vancouver
2010 Evaluation; Establishing a Long-Term Global Event Agenda; Women’s Hockey after 2010; and Growing
Participation in Hockey.
Following is a summary of each of the six sessions:
SESSIONS ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 24
PLAYER SKILL DEVELOPMENT
(9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Air Canada Center)
Understanding the need for and establishing a long-term plan for player development will assist player
recruitment and retention and provide opportunities for a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience in youth
hockey and foster long-term participation in the sport at all levels of play. Session topics will
include:
- Long-term player development strategies
- A review of current youth development programming best practices
- Addressing the developmental shortcomings in youth hockey
- Opportunities for growth through the IIHF Audit Initiative
- Current trends and issues concerning player safety in today’s game
Speakers: Dr. Steve Norris, Director of Sport Physiology & Strategic Planning at the
Canadian Sport Centre for 2002, 20 Winter Olympics, and Dr. Mark Aubry, Chief
Medical Officer of the IIHF and Hockey Canada.
Panelists: Peter Laviolette, Philadelphia Flyers head coach; Bob
Mancini, regional manager of USA Hockey’s American Development Model; Brendan
Shanahan, NHL vice president of hockey and business development; Bob Boughner,
Columbus Blue Jackets assistant coach; Jack Hewitt, vice president, marketing services for
Kraft Canada and a longtime minor hockey coach.
JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE WORLD
(1:30 - 5 p.m., Air Canada Center)
Assessing the results and figures from the IIHF World (U20) Juniors, the Olympics and the NHL Draft.
Session topics will include:
- The impact of European migration to the Canadian Junior ranks
- Effects of Europeans leaving for the NHL and AHL
- Strategies for maintaining the popularity of the IIHF World Juniors
- Addressing the developmental shortcomings in elite junior and college programs
Speakers: Slavomir Lerner, director & head coach, Czech National Team; Murray
Costello, IIHF Vice President.
Panelists: Darcy Regier, Buffalo Sabres general manager; Tommy Boustedt,
director of hockey development and national teams with the Swedish Ice Hockey Association; Jim
Johannson, USA Hockey assistant executive director of hockey operations; Kelly
McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings general manager & coach; Jan Filc, vice president of Slovak Ice
Hockey Association; Tom Anastos, Central Collegiate Hockey Association Commissioner.
SESSIONS ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25
VANCOUVER 2010 EVALUATON
(8:30 a.m. - noon, Sheraton Center)
Evaluating the 2010 Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament, helping hockey to benefit long-term from the
unprecedented success by sustaining the positives while developing other areas. Session topics will
include:
- Television, Commercial and Public Relations impact of Vancouver 2010
- The financial breakdown of Olympic hockey
- NHL participation - impact, consequences and costs
- Rink Comparison; IIHF vs. NHL size
Speakers: John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic
and Paralympic Winter Games; Rene Fasel, IIHF president; Timo Lumme, IOC
managing director, television & marketing services.
Panelists: Ken Holland, Detroit Red Wings executive vice president & general manager;
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators; Jamie Langenbrunner, New Jersey Devils;
Brian Cooper, Hockey Canada, director of the foundation board of directors;
Igor Kuperman, vice president of European operations for Pointstreak Sports
Technologies, Inc.
ESTABLISHING A LONG-TERM GLOBAL EVENT AGENDA
(1:30 - 5 p.m., Sheraton Center)
Exploring the possibilities to provide hockey with a long-term international event agenda for both
national team and club events, further enhancing the IIHF-NHL cooperation for the growth of the game. Session
topics will include:
- Integrating the World Cup of Hockey into the international agenda and to consider a consistent rotation
between the IIHF World Championship, the Olympics and the World Cup
- Addressing the need for an annual World Club Championship (Victoria Cup) between the Stanley Cup champion
and the European champion
- Champions Hockey League - an opportunity for a re-launch
- For the good of the game - growing hockey worldwide
Speaker: Ralph Krueger, former Swiss National Team coach.
Panelists: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly; Toronto Maple Leafs
President and General Manager Brian Burke; KHL President Alexander
Medvedev; New York Rangers European pro scout Anders Hedberg; Hockey Night in
Canada broadcaster Glenn Healy; Paul Romanuk, international
broadcaster.
SESSIONS ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 26
WOMEN’S HOCKEY AFTER VANCOUVER 2010
(8:30 a.m. - noon, Sheraton Center)
What steps need to be taken to close the competitive gap between North American and European teams to
insure women’s hockey remains an Olympic sport? Session topics will include:
- Reviewing the approach towards women’s hockey in all IIHF member associations
- Do federations have a vision for women’s hockey and visionaries who are prepared to commit to the
cause?
- Increasing registration and participation among girls in the emerging women’s hockey nations
- Growing the competitive environment in women’s international hockey
- How should the IIHF assist emerging nations?
Speaker: Hayley Wickenheiser, Canadian National Women’s Team.
Panelists: Mel Davidson, Canadian National Women’s Team coach; Mark
Johnson, Head Coach of 2010 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team ; Arto Sieppi,
Finland’s director of women’s ice hockey; Peter Elander, Swedish coach at 2010 Olympic
Winter Games; Angela Ruggiero, U.S. National Women’s Team.
GROWING PARTICIPATION IN HOCKEY
(12:30 - 3 p.m., Sheraton Center)
Growing hockey means both recruiting new players and retaining our current ones. It is important to
promote positive messaging about our game and share best practices from around the world. Chicago Blackhawks
President John McDonough, Ottawa Senators Sports and Entertainment President Cyril
Leeder, Finland’s Director of Women’s Hockey Arto Sieppi, Tommy
Boustedt, Director of Hockey Development and National Teams with the Swedish Ice Hockey Association,
Dr. Paul Dennis, professor of sport psychology at the University of Toronto and York
University, Hockey Canada Chief Operating Officer Scott Smith and USA Hockey Assistant
Executive Director, Membership Development Pat Kelleher will bring the Summit to a close by
sharing their experiences and best practices in growing the game at all levels.’
For more information, contact:
NHL: Julie Young ([email protected])
Hockey Canada: Andre Brin ([email protected])
IIHF: Szymon Szemberg ([email protected])
USA Hockey: Dave Fischer ([email protected])
NHLPA: Jonathan Weatherdon ([email protected])
CHL: Paul Krotz ([email protected])
Molson: Adam Moffat ([email protected])