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CHL and ODHA Extend Support of 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship

More Than 20,000 Players to Wear Event Crest on Their Jerseys

WJC.022.08
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November 7, 2008
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OTTAWA – Hockey Canada and the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship host organizing committee, along with key partner the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), announced that all 60 CHL teams will wear a crest on their jerseys to celebrate and promote the event in Ottawa, which begins on Dec. 26 with two games.

The crest, which will be worn starting Nov. 7, features the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship logo of an iconic illustration of a hockey player with a stick in his hands. To his left there are motion lines indicating speed. This is incorporated with a dynamically stylized maple leaf. The portion beneath his skates is gold, reflecting the colours of Team Canada and their gold-medal objective.

The CHL is comprised of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). Fifty-one (51) of the CHL’s 60 franchises are located in Canada. The CHL is the premier development league in the world, and has produced over 50 per cent of current NHL players.

Over the course of the history of Hockey Canada’s program of excellence, which began in 1982, the CHL has placed a total of 528 players (of 577) on Canada’s national junior team rosters, which represents 92 per cent of national junior team alumni.

“The CHL is extremely proud of its partnership with Hockey Canada when it comes to Canada’s national junior team and the hosting of the world junior championships in Canada,” said David Branch, president of the CHL and OHL commissioner. “By the wearing of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship event crest on all CHL member team game jerseys, we are not only demonstrating our linkage with the event but as well, it is an opportunity of expressing our appreciation and thanking the championship organizers and the hundreds of volunteers in the Ottawa area who will make this year’s event the best ever.”

“Since the very beginning of the program of excellence, back in 1982, the CHL has been a great supporter of the national junior team and the world junior championship,” said Bob Nicholson, president of Hockey Canada. “The fact that all 60 member teams of the CHL will be assisting in promoting this great event is further testimony to the CHL’s commitment to this championship and Hockey Canada’s program of excellence.”

“It is also great that the Ottawa District Hockey Association has joined us for this program,” added Nicholson. “We are very pleased to be linking the world juniors to grassroots hockey, as minor hockey players are the future or both the CHL and our national teams.”

Richard Waldroff, president of the ODHA, noted the association’s ongoing commitment to the world juniors. “Our volunteers, associations, teams, coaches, parents and players have been supportive and excited to play host to the 2009 World Junior Championship in Ottawa,” said Waldroff. “We are proud of our contribution over the years in having area players and staff represent us and we look forward to the legacy from this year’s event. It gives us great pleasure to show our support with the patch on 20,000 of our player jerseys.”

The CHL assists Hockey Canada in assembling Canada’s national junior team, as well as presenting the world junior championship when it is held in Canada. League commissioners David Branch (OHL), Gilles Courteau (QMJHL) and Ron Robison (WHL) are members of the national junior team policy committee, and Branch was also a member of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship site selection committee.

For more information, please contact:
André Brin, Hockey Canada, 403-540-8444
Paul Krotz, Canadian Hockey League, 416-332-9711
Phil Legault, 2009 IIHF WJC host committee, 613-599-0327

For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

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