January 23, 2006
GN002

HOCKEY CANADA GRANTS EXTENSION TO QUEBEC CITY TO PROVIDE REQUESTED INFORMATION CONCERNING PLANS FOR THE 2008 IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

On Tuesday, January 23rd, Hockey Canada received a request from Quebec City for a ten-day extension to respond to eight Operational, Business and Financial questions that were asked of Quebec City on Monday, January 22nd. Hockey Canada granted Quebec City a seven-day extension, and a formal written response will be required by Wednesday, January 31st at 5 pm (ET). In attention, Hockey Canada will further clarify the conditions of granting this extension in a letter to be sent to Quebec City in the next 24 hours.

Hockey Canada had initially requested a response for the Steering Committee by Tuesday, January 23rd.at 5 pm (ET), given that the information requested has been due for several months and had been addressed specifically again with Quebec City officials on November 7, 2006.

During this extension, the 2008 IIHF World Hockey Championship Steering Committee will continue to evaluate all of its options, including assessing alternate sites.

The 2008 IIHF World Championship was awarded to Quebec City and Halifax in April, 2003 and officially ratified at the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) General Congress in May 2004.