Barrie to host game in Canada/Russia Challenge
Published on October 5, 2004 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Barrie Colts News Release
Barrie, ON- The Ontario Hockey League today announced that the Barrie Colts and Mississauga IceDogs will host the OHL games in the 2004 CHL Canada/Russia Challenge in November.
Barrie will host the first OHL-based game on November 25 at the Barrie Molson Centre followed by Mississauga on November 29 at the Hershey Centre.
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring this special event to two of the premiere markets in our league," said OHL Commissioner David Branch. "We look forward to showcasing many of our top players to fans at the Barrie Molson Centre and the Hershey Centre in Mississauga."
The first two games of the 2004 CHL Canada-Russia Challenge will be held in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts hosting the first game of the series on November 22 and the second game will be played at the Bell Centre in Montreal on November 23. The series will conclude in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels hosting on December 1 and the Lethbridge Hurricanes hosting the finale on December 2.
All six games will be broadcast nationally on Rogers Sportsnet.
"We are very exciting about the opportunity to host a world-class event like this", stated Team President, Mark Stubbs. "It will be a great opportunity for hockey fans in Barrie to watch some of the best junior players in the world play against each other."
The CHL Canada/Russia Challenge will be an integral part of the identification process for Canada's National Junior Team final selection camp. Each league has a management team who will work with Blair Mackasey, Hockey Canada's head scout, to select the roster of players who will represent each regional league. The CHL rosters will be announced later this month.
The Canadian Hockey League introduced the Canada-Russia Challenge in six CHL cities last November. The series drew capacity crowds in London, Sarnia, Brandon and Rimouski, along with strong attendance in Halifax and Calgary. Thousands more tuned in to watch the series on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS. The CHL won five of the six games in the series. 19 CHL players that played in the CHL Canada-Russia Challenge last year were selected to represent Canada in the World Junior Championships.
Canada and Russia have finished first and second in the World Junior Championships eight times in the past 18 years, including 2003 when Russia defeated Canada 3-2 to win the gold medal in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Russia has 12 gold medals in World Junior play, including each of the past two years. Canada is second on the all-time list with 10.
The Barrie Molson Centre last hosted a league event when it was home to the OHL All-Star Cup in 1997. The state-of-the-art 4,195 seat facility officially opened for hockey on December 31, 1995.
Tickets for the November 25th game at the Barrie Molson Centre go on sale to the general public beginning October 18th. Tickets are $22.00 and they can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling (705)-739-7666, in person at the box office, or on-line at www.barriecolts.com.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2004
- Barrie and Mississauga to host CHL Canada/Russia Challenge - Kingston Frontenacs
- Franchin, McNeill Earn Spirit Players of the Week - Saginaw Spirit
- Barrie to host game in Canada/Russia Challenge - Barrie Colts
- CHL centres to host Canada/Russia Challenge - OHL
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