Thursday, February 2, 2012

CHL Honours Jim Gregory with Top Prospects Game Award

Press Release

Kelowna, BC – The Canadian Hockey League is proud to announce that Hockey Hall of Fame member Jim Gregory will be recognized annually at the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game with Player of the Game awards that will be named in his honour.

The announcement was made by CHL President David Branch on Tuesday night at a special reception hosted by the CHL for the hundreds of scouts in attendance in Kelowna, BC, host site of the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

“The Canadian Hockey League and the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game has benefited from the support of builders such as Jim Gregory,” said Branch.  “Mr. Gregory’s contributions to this event and to our game are countless and it is only fitting that he be recognized annually in an event that features future NHL greats.”

Born November 4, 1935 in Port Colborne, Ontario, Jim Gregory grew up in Dunnville, Ontario, and moved to Toronto to attend St. Michael's College School in 1953.  In 1961, Gregory was part of a Majors’ organization that won the Memorial Cup as junior champions of Canada.  Gregory moved to coaching and would win the Memorial Cup two more times with the Toronto Marlboros in 1964 and 1967 when he added the role of manager to his title.  Gregory quickly emerged as a strong executive, and in 1979, was hired by the National Hockey League as Director of Central Scouting. In 1986, he was named Executive Director of Hockey Operations for the NHL. Today, Gregory continues as Senior Vice President, Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League. In addition to his duties with the NHL, Jim has served as Chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame's Selection Committee since 1998, and has also served as a member of the OHL’s MasterCard Memorial Cup Site Selection Committee.  Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder in 2007, he also recently received The Order of St. Michael awarded to individuals who embody the Basilian Fathers’ motto “Teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge”.

Other builders of the annual showcase of the CHL’s top draft eligible players include Don Cherry and Bobby Orr who have served together as coaches in this event 11 times including the first six straight years of the game beginning in 1996.  Both were honoured by the CHL in 2006 when the Don Cherry and Bobby Orr Trophy was first presented to the game’s winning team and has engraved on it the names of all players that have ever competed in this prestigious event.

The Jim Gregory Player of the Game Awards will be presented for the first time tonight in Kelowna when 40 of the CHL’s top prospects eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft hit the ice at Prospera Place.  Last season, Carolina Hurricanes first round pick Ryan Murphy was named Player of the Game for Team Cherry while first overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins received Player of the Game honours for Team Orr.

The 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is supported by title sponsor Home Hardware for the 13th straight year with associate sponsors Bank of Montreal, Subway, and CCM.

The game will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Quebec beginning at 7:00 pm Pacific and available online through Sportsnet 590 The FAN.


(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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