McKenna Named ECHL President/CEO

September 12, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

McKenna succeeds Richard W. Adams, who was President/CEO of the ECHL for seven seasons and has been with the league for eight seasons. Adams will continue to serve in an advisory capacity for the ECHL.

"The ECHL has come through a period of unprecedented growth under the direction of Rick Adams. We have a great product and a solid economic model," said McKenna. "I look forward to working with all of our members to continue to provide a great product for our fans and a great environment for our players to play and develop."

"Brian McKenna is the ideal successor to lead the ECHL into the future," said Adams. "The ECHL is fortunate to bring on a new President/CEO that has the expertise in both hockey and business that Brian possesses."

"Brian McKenna's commitment to professional excellence and his passion for the future of minor league hockey and the ECHL will be beneficial to all of our members," said James M. Edwards. "As Chairman of the Board of Governors, I am looking forward to working with him to address the challenges that lie ahead."

McKenna comes to the ECHL from Trenton of the ECHL where he served as President and General Manager since the team's inception. He was named ECHL Executive of the Year following Trenton's inaugural season in 1999-2000, a season that saw the Titans average more than 7,000 fans per game in the regular season and advance to the Northern Conference Finals.

Trenton has advanced to the Kelly Cup Playoffs in each of its three seasons, including the 2001 Kelly Cup Finals, and won the Brabham Cup, presented each season to the team with the best regular season record, in 2000-01. Six former Titans have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, and former Trenton coach Bruce Cassidy was named head coach of the Washington Capitals in the NHL in June. In 2001, Trenton was awarded the Coach of the Year, the Rookie of the Year, the Goaltender of the Year, and the Marketing Director of the Year. In 2002, the Titans were awarded the Sportsmanship Award and the Broadcaster of the Year.

"Brian McKenna has been at the helm of the Titans from the team's inception, and the team's success both on and off the ice is due in no small part to his exceptional abilities," said Trenton owner Geoffrey Berman. "We are sad that he is leaving the organization, but heartened that the ECHL will be in such capable hands."

Prior to joining the Titans, McKenna was the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Carolina Monarchs in the American Hockey League, who set an AHL single-game attendance record with 20,672 fans in 1997. McKenna was the Director of Hockey Operations for the Ottawa Senators in the NHL from 1992-94, including serving as Governor for the Senators' AHL affiliate. Active in hockey since 1980 as both a coach and scout for numerous teams at all levels, McKenna, who was awarded his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of New Brunswick, served as the Director of Sales for the Senators from 1990-92.

The ECHL opens its 15th Anniversary Season on October 11 with 27 teams in 14 states, including its newest market, Lexington, Kentucky.

The ECHL Board of Governors on Tuesday approved membership applications for the Anchorage Aces; the Bakersfield Condors; the Fresno Falcons; the Idaho (Boise) Steelheads; the Las Vegas Wranglers; the Long Beach Ice Dogs; the San Diego Gulls; Ontario, California; and Reno, Nevada. The nine new members in four Western States gives the ECHL a national presence with 40 teams in 19 states.

There have been 192 former East Coast Hockey League players that have advanced to the National Hockey League along with coaches, officials and front office personnel. In 2001-02, 83 ECHL alumni played in the NHL including 18 who made their NHL debut and 25 of the 30 teams in the NHL developed players with ECHL affiliates.

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ECHL Stories from September 12, 2002

• Last Year's Grizzlies Attending Dallas Training Camp - Utah Grizzlies
• Condors to Hold Job Fair and National Anthem Tryouts - Bakersfield Condors
• Skoryna Crosses the Rivalry Line to Join Condors - Bakersfield Condors
• McKenna Named ECHL President/CEO - ECHL
• Generals sign a pair of Icemen - Greensboro Generals
• Lynx Sign Vet Brown - Augusta Lynx
• Knopp Agree with Men O' War - Burlington
• Cirillo becomes newest Lynx - Augusta Lynx
• 'Gades Sign Two More - Richmond Renegades
• Lynx Bring Back Bryce Classen - Augusta Lynx
• 'Gades Send Gernander to Baton Rouge - Richmond Renegades
• 'Gades Individual Game Tickets on Sale Monday - Richmond Renegades
• Jason Baird Headed to Lynx - Augusta Lynx
• Sea Wolves Re-sign Lisabeth - Mississippi Sea Wolves
• Grrrowl Deal Forward to Pensacola - Greenville Grrrowl
• Titans Ink Bergin and Schneider for 2002-03 Season - Trenton Devils
• IceGators sign four to tryout agreements - Louisiana IceGators
• RiverBlades to Play Preseason Contests in Idaho - Arkansas RiverBlades
• Royals Individual Game Tickets to go on Sale October 1 - Reading Royals

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