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 <<<<< Color Voice of the Merrimack Warriors (station TBA for 94-95) >>>>>