The Canadian Multicultural Hockey League (CMHL)

Making History in Canadian Hockey with the Multicultural Hockey Tournament

Toronto, October 31, 2005: With over two decades in the making, the Canadian Multicultural Hockey League (CMHL) is poised to break new ground in the history of Canadian Hockey. Founded this spring, the organization has been building a truly exciting project that is based on a unique and highly innovative concept in hockey; one for which the organization is already garnering tremendous support across Canada and particularly where it is based, in the most multicultural city in Canada, Toronto.

The CMHL is simply responding to a question that was posed in the 1980’s -- ‘would it not be a great idea to have a multicultural hockey league where the best players in each “community” play against each other, like a mini World Cup of Hockey Tournament at home?’ And after watering the seed since then, it is finally germinating. The CMHL is developing a unique and brilliant grassroots concept that was destined to happen in the aftermath of a year-long NHL hockey lockout, when Canadians are ready to embrace and revalidate their game of hockey.

Only a few months in existence, the CMHL is creating a first ever opportunity to demonstrate the power of the game of hockey to Canadians and their families. Having at its heart a key objective to promote hockey to the traditionally non-hockey playing communities, the CMHL will motivate those communities, would-be players and spectators alike, to fully appreciate one of Canada’s biggest legacies—the game of hockey!

The CMHL’s passion and pro-active nature for the development of the game in Canada will culminate with the Crown Royal Multicultural Hockey Tournament, which will be truly an historical event to be held in Toronto in the coming December 27-30, 2005. In nowhere else in the world but Canada, where we have such ethnic diversities, and particularly Toronto, could such an event be possible. Participating ethnic communities are working very diligently to put together their best possible representative team in an event that shares what all Canadians have in common – Hockey! Sixteen teams will play a total of 38 games between two arenas, Scarborough Gardens and Ted Reeve, at the time of year when many families are on vacation celebrating the holiday season together. It is anticipated that between hockey enthusiasts and community supporters, at least 20,000 spectators will attend the four-day tournament and be part of the quest for the Canadian Cup and Multicultural Hockey supremacy!

Former NHL players, Canadians George Servinis, Minnesota North Stars, Peter Zezel and Mark Osborne, Toronto Maple Leafs, all believe in the work of the CMHL and fully support the idea behind the upcoming tournament. Mark Osborne states: “I am fully behind the idea of bringing so many diverse cultural backgrounds together in our most multicultural city to play in a hockey tournament. It is a fantastic idea to promote our great game in the world's best hockey market to non-traditional hockey playing communities. Canada is Hockey and Hockey is Canada, and it is this exciting game that unites us all together."

CMHL’s tournament regulations require the game to be played non-contact and that players must be 19 years and older and Canadian citizens. In addition, players must have played at a high level of hockey: Junior, Semi Pro and Professional. Importing players from other countries will not be permitted. This will be truly Canadian! Players of Italian, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese and Greek backgrounds, for example, will be given a unique opportunity to play for their communities. The championship team will receive a $5,000.00 donation to a charitable organization of their choice, thereby giving back to the communities who supported them.

The CMHL is proud to welcome Crown Royal, the best-selling Canadian whisky in the world, as Title Sponsor of the upcoming tournament. Crown Royal's distinctive Canadian roots and legendary approach to bringing friends and family together to celebrate, will be in full force as the official sponsor of the CMHL’s inaugural event. Michele D'Angelo, Director, Crown Royal, states: "We are very excited to team up with the CMHL in this premier initiative and fully embrace this celebration of multiculturalism in Canada".

Judging by the unprecedented response to the Crown Royal Multicultural Hockey Tournament from other confirmed sponsors such as Rogers OMNI Television, Exclusive Media Sponsor; along with Coffee Time, Metohos, a host of allied organizations like Hockey Canada and the Hockey Hall of Fame – plus, various ethnic communities -- we can expect great excitement from the inaugural annual tournament and the future of the CMHL, which plans to launch in fall 2006.

Tickets for each of the 38 games are $5.00 and may be purchased on www.ticketweb.com or by calling 1-888-222-6608. Organizations wishing to get involved may call 905-274-1620. For additional information on the upcoming Crown Royal Multicultural Tournament, please visit www.cmhl.ca.