Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Spruce Grove to Host 2009 AJHL Showcase

Press Release

The Alberta Junior Hockey League is proud to announce the 2009 Crescent Point Energy Trust and TriStar Oil & Gas AJHL Showcase will be held in Spruce Grove, Alberta from October 1st - 3rd, 2009. The event will be a joint initiative between the city of Spruce Grove, the Spruce Grove Saints and the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

The three-day event will include each of the League’s 16 teams playing two regular season games apiece at the TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove, AB. The AJHL Showcase is a unique opportunity for the scouting community to evaluate over 400 AJHL players in one location as they compete against one another. Thousands of AJHL fans, scouts and media gathered in the AJHL community of Sherwood Park for the 2nd Annual AJHL Showcase in 2008.

Spruce Grove Mayor Stuart Houston is looking forward to showing off the city’s hockey spirit. “We have some of the greatest hockey fans in the country here, and this will be their chance to see the future of the sport firsthand,” he said. “We’ll also be proud to share the warm hospitality that our community is known for as we welcome the many visitors who come for this event.”

The TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre (TLC) is proud to be working with the AJHL on the 2009 Showcase. The TLC’s General Manager Deborah Larsen is thrilled the TLC has been chosen as the venue for an event of this caliber and points out that “building partnerships not only in our region but throughout the broader sporting community is essential as the TLC aims to be a regional leader in sport, recreation and wellness. We look forward to contributing to the success of the 2009 Showcase.”

Spruce Grove Saints Governor Darren Myshak believes the AJHL Showcase is an excellent opportunity for the community and the team, “We are extremely excited to assist the League in hosting the 2009 AJHL Showcase. This event will provide notoriety to Spruce Grove, and it is a unique event for our fans to be a part of. The Showcase will highlight the benefits and excitement that the AJHL provides not only its athletes but the community itself. The League is fortunate to host this event in a community that supports Junior hockey and will fully embrace the AJHL Showcase.”

Several AJHL Alumni have credited the Annual AJHL Showcase for the exposure they received, which resulted in scholarships to post-secondary institutes across North America. Approximately 100 scouts attended the event in 2008, including representatives from 20 NHL teams, the NCAA, CIS, CHL and executives from NHL Central Scouting.

A complete schedule for the 2009 AJHL Showcase is available at www.ajhl.ca. Each of the exciting 16 games will be broadcast live on the AJHL Website www.ajhl.ca. Ticket Prices, Scouting Packages and further event information will be made available shortly.

To volunteer for the 2009 Crescent Point Energy Trust and TriStar Oil & Gas AJHL Showcase, please contact Joan Holmberg at 780 952-7173,

Please direct all further inquiries regarding the 2009 Crescent Point Energy Trust and TriStar Oil & Gas AJHL Showcase Weekend to Ryan Bartoshyk through the contact information listed below.

For More Information:

Craig T. Cripps
President
Alberta Junior Hockey League
(403) 262-9636 Office
(403) 607-4858 Cell
president@ajhl.ca

Ryan Bartoshyk
Vice-President, Marketing
Alberta Junior Hockey League
(403) 257-9532 Office
(403) 585-7597 Cell
marketing@ajhl.ca

Charla Flett
Communications / Statistics
Alberta Junior Hockey League
(403) 999-5734 Cell
(403) 536-0550 Fax
communications@ajhl.ca

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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