February 28, 1996
NR.020

SYDNEY TO HOST 5TH ANNUAL IRVING OIL CHALLENGE CUP ATLANTIC CANADA BANTAM CHAMPIONSHIP, MARCH 28-31, 1996

SYDNEY (Nova Scotia) - Canadian Hockey, the Cape Breton County Minor Hockey Association and Irving Oil Limited are pleased to announce that the fifth annual Irving Oil Challenge Cup, for the Atlantic Canada Bantam Hockey Championship, will be held at the Jeux Canada Games Complex in Sydney, N.S., from Thursday, March 28 through Sunday, March 31, 1996.

The five-team championship, which attracts teams from the four Atlantic-based associations, showcases some of Atlantic Canada's finest competitive bantam-aged hockey teams comprised of 14- and 15-year-olds during the four-day tournament.

"Canadian Hockey is delighted to have the on-going support of Irving Oil for this event," said Jed Ritcey, Nova Scotia Hockey Association president and member of Canadian Hockey's board of directors. "It's good corporate citizens like Irving Oil who provide us with much-needed financial support to make our programs so successful. We sincerely appreciate their loyal support and we are most pleased that they have chosen to become even more involved in minor hockey.

"I am sure that this championship will be a truly rewarding experience for the players, their parents and fans, as well as everyone involved in making this event the success that I know it's to be," added Mr. Ritcey.

"Our people take great pride and interest in this sports sponsorship," said Charlie MacInnis, Irving Oil's Regional Manager based out of Sydney. "As a local Irving person, I have an Œinside' knowledge of what the Irving Oil Challenge Cup is all about.

"I have followed bantam hockey here in Cape Breton, so I know what this excitement is all about," added Mr. MacInnis, who has been involved with youth hockey over the years. "For me to now host this prestigious tournament is a real honour."

Under the auspices of Canadian Hockey, the Irving Oil Challenge Cup brings together the championship bantam teams representing its four Atlantic-based associations: the New Brunswick Amateur Hockey Association (NBAHA), the Nova Scotia Hockey Association (NSHA), the Prince Edward Island Hockey Association (PEIHA) and the Newfoundland Amateur Hockey Association (NAHA). The host entry, provided by the Cape Breton County Minor Hockey Association, rounds out the five-team competition.

"The Cape Breton County Minor Hockey Association is proud to have been chosen as the host for the 1996 Irving Oil Challenge Cup," said Paul Crane, co-chairman for the event's organizing committee. "We sincerely thank Irving Oil, Canadian Hockey and the Nova Scotia Hockey Association for their support in helping our organization to make this championship possible."

Stewart Setchell, the other committee co-chairman, noted that, "an experienced and dedicated committee has been working extremely hard since the announcement that Sydney had been awarded the championship. The committee's primary objective is participant-oriented, by making the Irving Oil Challenge Cup a highlight of each player's minor hockey career and provide a positive lifelong memory."

The championship format has all five teams competing in a single round-robin series to be played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 28, 29, 30.

At the conclusion of the 10-game round-robin series, the top four teams will play on Sunday, March 31. The third and fourth place teams will play-off for the bronze medal honors at 10 a.m., while the first and second place teams will challenge for the gold medal and the 1996 Irving Oil Challenge Cup title in the 1:30 p.m match-up.

The official opening ceremonies for the 1996 Irving Oil Challenge Cup Atlantic Canada Bantam Hockey Championship will take place on-ice at the Jeux Canada Games Complex starting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, setting the stage for exciting first-round action.

The first four winners of the Irving Oil Challenge Cup were: the Fredericton Canadiens (NBAHA) in 1992; the Moncton Irving Oilers (NBAHA) in 1993; the St. John's Capitals (NAHA) in 1994; and the Fredericton Irving Wheels & Deals Canadiens (NBAHA) in 1995.