CALGARY, AB - The Canadian Hockey Association will be making bid guidelines available for Canadian communities interested in hosting the 2003 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships on Saturday, September 30 at 2 pm (Eastern), the CHA announced on Friday.

The bid guidelines will be available on-line at www.canadianhockey.ca/2003 where interested parties can either download or print the pertinent information. Bid guidelines are also available by calling the CHA's office in Calgary at 403-777-3636 during regular office hours. Prior to downloading or printing the information, candidates are required to register with the CHA as a potential host site, to facilitate communication with all the interested parties.

"Over the years, the World Juniors have become one of the most prestigious sporting events in Canada, generating great interest from coast to coast," said Bob Nicholson, President of the CHA. "The event is also important for the CHA because it generates funding that helps us advance hockey development in Canada, from the grass roots development programs right through our National Teams."

The CHA is required to submit it's potential host site to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) no later than the end of the calendar year. The site will then be subject to final approval by the IIHF at it's meeting next May, during the Men's World Hockey Championship in Hanover, Germany. However, the IIHF council has informed the CHA that it will give it's support to the Canadian site, should the bid be of the quality of past Canadian bids.

The 2003 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship would take place late December 2002 to January 2003.

Canada has hosted the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship five times: 1999 (Winnipeg, MB), 1995 (Red Deer, AB), 1991 (Saskatoon, SK), 1986 (Hamilton, ON), 1978 (Montreal, QC).

For any additional information on the bid guidelines, contact Scott Smith, Vice-president, Operations with the CHA at 403-777-4584.