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CHL Colorado Eagles

Colorado Eagles to Host 2009 CHL All-Star Game

February 23, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced today that they will be the host of the 2009 CHL All-Star Game at the Budweiser Events Center (BEC), keeping the All-Star festivities in Colorado for the second year in a row. In addition to hosting the All-Star festivities, the Eagles and the league are planning a dramatic change in the way the game will be played by introducing an old-style-type format in which the host team plays against the rest of the league's All-Stars. The format change is reflective of the early days of professional hockey, when the Stanley Cup champions would take on the All-Star team.

"We're both honored and excited to be hosting next year's All-Star event," said Eagles president, general manager and head coach, Chris Stewart. "The change in format is just one aspect of what we hope will bring the CHL All-Star Game to a whole new level of excitement and entertainment for the fans of the league and the Colorado Eagles. It will definitely be a more intense and physical game than what the current format dictates."

Added Rick Kozuback, President and CEO of Global Entertainment Corporation (AMEX: GEE), which operates the CHL through one of its subsidiary companies, "The CHL All-Star Game has always generated enthusiasm and excitement for the league and its fans. With the new format of one of our premier franchises, the Colorado Eagles, playing host to the CHL's All-Stars, I know that the excitement level and fan interest will jump to an all-time high." The CHL also considered the region and the team's operational reputation in selecting the Eagles as the host team. "We are extremely pleased to name the Colorado Eagles and Northern Colorado as the host for the 2009 CHL All-Star Game," added Kozuback. "The Eagles have been a model franchise, winning our prestigious Franchise of the Year Award in the 2004-05 season."

The Eagles' founder, Ralph Backstrom - a six-time Stanley Cup champion and NHL Rookie of the Year - and his wife Janet, have been selected as chairpersons of the event and will oversee all facets of the project, ensuring that every aspect of the festivities is done in top-notch fashion. "It's a great honor to be chosen as the chair of the 2009 CHL All-Star Game," said Backstrom. "I plan on using my years of experience and input to help make sure everything is done with the same high standards the Colorado Eagles organization has set to put on a show worthy of Northern Colorado and our fans."

The All-Star game will be presented by Poudre Valley Health System (PVHS), one of the team's founding partners and the Exclusive Health Care System of the Colorado Eagles. PVHS jumped at the opportunity to sponsor the event, again showing their dedication to the organization and the region. "As an Eagles sponsor since day one, Poudre Valley Health System is proud to serve as the presenting sponsor for the 2009 CHL All-Star Game at the Budweiser Events Center," said Pam Brock, Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Planning for PVHS. "The Eagles organization brings a huge value to this region, providing exciting entertainment that offers families fun, affordable activities and helping to make Northern Colorado a great place to live, work and play."

Bob Herrfeldt, Director of The Ranch (the official name of the fairgrounds that house the BEC), said that local citizens are seeing their votes come to fruition. "Events like the CHL All-Star Game are exactly why Larimer County wanted to build The Ranch. People wanted a high number of quality events and that's what they're getting - and it all adds up to provide an economic boost to the area." Herrfeldt continued, "This is just one more big step for the Colorado Eagles at the BEC; it started with the championships and then the sellout record, and now it's the league's All-Star game."

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2008


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