Contact: Phil Andrews (0044) 7811 463077, phil.Andrews@buiha.org.uk

Hockey Stars for Hope Return To Help UK Kids Play
UK NHL Alumni Charity Tour 2006

This spring the Hockey Stars for Hope charity tour will return to Help Kids Play in the UK.

This will be the second annual national tour for Hockey Stars For Hope, whom last time raised £5000 for junior hockey programs in the UK.

The tour, starring an array of NHL alumni, will begin at Bracknell’s John Nike Leisure Centre against the Bracknell Bees (Face off 8pm) on 11th April 2006. The squad will then fly to Scotland where they will take on a Scottish Select side at Fife Ice Arena on 12 April, also an 8pm Face/Off. From there, the squad travels to Coventry to take on last years Elite League Grand-Slammers at the Skydome on the 13th April (8pm F/O). The tour rolls on then to a Good Friday battle at the National Ice Centre, Nottingham, where Nottingham Panthers & HSFH NHL Stars will take on arch-rivals Sheffield Steelers & HSFH NHL Stars at 7.30pm. The tour culminates at the WNIR on 16th April against the Cardiff Devils.

The tour includes an array of NHL Alumni stars including Finnish legend Esa Tikkanen, who won 4 Stanley Cups with the legendary Edmonton Oilers playing alongside line-mates Jari Kurri & Wayne Gretzky, before linking up with good friend Mark Messier to once again win the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers. Tikkanen registered 762 Points (316+446) in 1063 NHL games with Edmonton, Washington & New York Rangers before representing Team Finland in the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Joining Tikkanen will be NHL fight legend Bob Probert, whom amassed 3300 Penalty Mins in 935 regular season Games with Detroit Red Wings & Chicago Blackhawks.

Ex-London Knight Troy Crowder, whom played 150 NHL games with New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings & Vancouver Canucks will also be joining the tour, and had this to say. "The biggest reason I'm going over to play back in the UK is to raise awareness and funds to help such a worthy charity," said Troy Crowder. "Secondly, I had many fond memories of my time both on and off the ice over in the UK. The fans over there were very warm and, off the ice, they were very welcoming and hospitable. I'm really looking forward to it as now I get to bring some of my former NHL buddies over to the UK to experience UK hockey and the fans and atmosphere over there."

With more names yet to confirm, other names joining the tour include Stanley Cup winner Reijo Ruotsalinen, 1000-Game player Greg Adams, 900-game player Tony McKegney, NHL tough guy Gino Odjick, Finnish international Petri Striko as well as Chris Kontos, Stew Gavin, Ray Neufeld, Kurt Walker, Jordy Douglas & Dave Pichette.

Proceeds from the tour will be available to all individual young players and youth hockey organizations all over the UK & Northern Ireland.

Tickets are on sale now for all dates:
Priced:
Bracknell & Fife:
£12 Adults, £8 Concession/Student, £7 Under 16s & £31 Family Ticket (2 Adults, 2 Children)
Available from Bracknell Bees Box Office on 01344 789000
Available from Fife Ice Arena Box Office in person or from Rothes Halls Box Office by telephone or online at www.rotheshalls.org.uk on 01592 612121

Coventry:
Adults £12-13, Under 16s & Students £8-9, Family Ticket £32-35
Available from Coventry SkyDome Box Office on 02476 630693

Cardiff:
Corporate: Adult £14, Concession/Under 16 £10
Premier: Adults £13, Concession/Under 16 £9
General: Adults £12, Concession/Under 16 £8, Family Ticket £35
Standing: Adults £9, Concesssion/Under 16 £7
Available from Wales National Ice Rink Box Office on 0292 064 5988

Nottingham:
Gold: £15 Adults, £15 Concession/Students, £15 Under 16s
Silver: £13 Adults, £10 Concessions, £10 Under 16s
Bronze: £13 Adults, £10 Concessions/Students, £7 Under 16s
£2 Discount is available to all Nottingham Panthers & Sheffield Steelers season ticket holders.
Available from National Ice Centre Box Office on 0870 121 0123 or at www.nottingham-arena.com