CALGARY - Canadian Hockey joins the Royal Bank Cup 1996 Organizing Committee in announcing that a legacy of $205,000 in projected profits from the 1996 Royal Bank Cup National Junior A Championship, that was held from May 4-12 in Melfort, Sask.

"On behalf of Canadian Hockey, I would like to extend sincere congratulations to the committee for the outstanding job done in hosting this year's Royal Bank Cup," said Frank Lento, Canadian Hockey chairman from Fernie, B.C. "Not only was this one of the most successful national championships ever held in Canada but, more importantly, the performance of the Melfort organizing committee has raised the hosting of these events to a new standard."

The money generated from the Royal Bank Cup will be placed in the Melfort Junior Hockey Heritage Fund, administered by past officers of the Melfort Junior Hockey Association Inc., to preserve the on-going operation on junior hockey in Melfort.

"The Committee would especially like to thank Royal Bank, Canadian Hockey and all the national sponsors and the provincial and local sponsors, all of whom provided outstanding support," said co-chairmen Dale Frier and Randy Sorensen. "The real success story lies in the dedication of the community of Melfort, the directors and committee, the hundreds of volunteers, the thousands of hockey fans that attended, as well as the fine junior A hockey team that participated."

"Never before has Canadian Hockey witnessed an event which has penetrated the community and the entire province to the extent of the 1996 Royal Bank Cup," added Lento. "Not only have they created a valuable legacy for their community, they have also assisted in launching a new national sponsorship for hockey in Canada."

The 1996 national junior A championship marked the first year of Royal Bank's involvement. Air Canada and Imperial Oil Limited acted as co-presenters of the Royal Bank Cup.

The Vernon Vipers defeated the Melfort Mustangs 2-0 to take the first Royal Bank Cup on Sunday, May 12. The final was televised nationally on The Sports Network and Le Reseau des Sports. Over 23,000 fans attended the 13-game, nine-day event.

The 1997 Royal Bank Cup will be held in Summerside, P.E.I., while Nanaimo, B.C. will host the national junior A championship in 1998.