The following appeared in the Aug/Sept 1994 issue of American Hockey
Magazine.
 
USA HOCKEY AWARDS 1996 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP TO
MASSACHUSETTS SPORTS PARTNERSHIP
 
USA Hockey, in conjunction with the International Ice Hockey Federation,
has selected the Massachusetts Sports Partnership to serve as host for
the 1996 IIHF World Junior Championship.
 
The announcement was made Aug. 3 in Boston, Mass., by Walter L. Bush, Jr.,
President of USA Hockey and Vice President of the International Ice
Hockey Federation, and David Ogrean, Executive Director of USA Hockey.
 
"We are quite confident the Massachusetts Sports Partnership will do an
outstanding job as host for this important world-class event," said Bush.
"The World Junior Championship is one of the top tournaments on the
International Ice Hockey Federation calendar, and we are proud to bring
this exciting competition to the state of Massachusetts."
 
According to Baaron Pittenger, President of the Massachusetts Sports
Partnership, games will be played in arenas throughout the state of
Massachusetts, including the Mullins Center at the University of
Massachusetts-Amherst; the Conte Forum at Boston College; the Springfield
Civic Center; Matthews Arena at Northeastern University; and three
locations in Worcester - the Centrum, the Hart Center and the New
England Sports Center.  Competition is set to begin Dec. 26, 1995, with
the bronze and gold medal games slated for Jan. 4, 1996.
 
"By playing games in various parts of the commonwealth, hockey fans and
youth hockey players throughout Massachusetts will have the opportunity
to enjoy this outstanding international tournament," said Pittenger.
"Massachusetts has a great hockey tradition, and we're proud to
contribute to that tradition by hosting the 1996 World Junior
Championship."
 
For the first time ever, the IIHF World Junior Championship will feature
an expanded, 10-team field in 1996, along with specific bronze and gold
medal games.  Historically, the IIHF World Junior Championship has
included only eight teams competing in a limited, round-robin
tournament format.
 
"Having the World Junior Championship in the United States is both a
privilege and an opportunity to showcase the sport in one of America's
great hockey hotbeds," said Ogrean.  "It is particularly exciting for
the fans in New England, as they will be the first to witness this
tournament in its new, 10-team format with specific games that will
determine the medal winners.
 
"The commitment and support we have received from the Massachusetts
Sports Partnership, the Boston Bruins and Massachusetts Hockey, an
affiliate of USA Hockey, will help ensure the overall success of this
event," added Ogrean.
 
Since its inception in 1977, the IIHF World Junior Championship has
twice been held in the United States: 1982 in the state of Minnesota
and 1989 in the greater Anchorage, Alaska, region.  The Soviet Union
dominated play in the early years of the IIHF World Junior Championship,
capturing six of the first eight gold medals, while Canada, which will
host the 1995 IIHF World Junior Championship in Red Deer, Alberta, has
won four of the last five.  The United States has twice earned a medal
in the IIHF World Junior Championship, claiming the bronze in both 1986
and 1992.
 
Many of the National Hockey League's top American-born stars skated for
Team USA in the IHHF World Junior Championship, including Jeremy Roenick
(Chicago Blackhawks), Chris Chelios (Chicago Blackhawks), Brian Leetch
(New York Rangers), Mike Richter (New York Rangers), Mike Modano (Dallas
Stars), Craig Janney (St Louis Blues), and John Vanbiesbrouck (Florida
Panthers).
 
In accordance with International Ice Hockey Federation rules, players
eligible to compete in the World Junior Championship must be under the
age of 20.
 
"This tournament has served as an important step in the overall
development process for a number of players who have gone on to enjoy
tremendous success at the junior, college, international and professional
levels of ice hockey," said USA Hockey's Director of National Teams and
International Activities, Art Berglund.
END
 
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                                            [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                    *HMM* 11/13/93
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