Generals team with City of Oshawa, UOIT and Durham College in bid to host 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup
May 30, 2006
General Motors of Canada to support Cup bid
OSHAWA, Ont. - The Oshawa Generals in partnership with the City of Oshawa, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College announced today their intention to formally bid for the honour of hosting the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
Hosted by Roger Lajoie, a sports radio host with The Fan 590 in Toronto, today's announcement was made at the Campus Ice Centre located at the UOIT/Durham College campus just two days after the 2006 MasterCard Memorial Cup concluded in Moncton, New Brunswick.
"The City of Oshawa and our legion of loyal fans have supported the Generals for seven decades. The downtown Sports and Entertainment Facility due to open in November of 2006 will soon be acknowledged as the finest junior hockey facility in Canada," said John Davies, owner of the Oshawa Generals. "These two factors coupled with our dynamic, young team combine to create an exceptionally strong bid for the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup."
Davies introduced UOIT President Dr. Gary Polonsky as the chairman of the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup bid committee that hopes to bring the prestigious national junior hockey championship tournament to Durham Region.
"We're making national sports history by bidding for the honour of hosting one of Canadian hockey's biggest events. With our outstanding facilities and a major sponsor already on board, we're going to put together a fantastic bid," said Dr. Gary Polonsky, president of UOIT and committee chairman.
General Motors of Canada, with its national headquarters in Oshawa, will support the bid process. "General Motors of Canada is excited to support Oshawa's bid for the 2008 Memorial Cup," said Michael Grimaldi, president, General Motors of Canada. "The Oshawa Generals, the City of Oshawa and GM should be a winning partnership."
The Canadian Hockey League awards the 10-day, four-team tournament to each of its three member leagues (the Ontario Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League) once every three years. In 2008, it is the OHL's turn to host the tournament and the Generals have formed a committee that they believe will enhance their bid to host the Cup, which will be awarded for the 90th time that year.
"Hosting Canada's premier hockey tournament will not only attract a significant boom to our local economy but will provide our residents with an unparalleled level of entertainment and excitement," said City of Oshawa Mayor John Gray. "The Memorial Cup championship is a world class event and it belongs in a world class city like Oshawa."
About The Oshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals were formed in 1937, with the 2007/2008 season marking the 70th anniversary of one of the OHL's most distinguished franchises. The Generals have won 12 OHL championships, four Memorial Cups and have had more than 150 players graduate to careers in the National Hockey League. In October, 2006 the team moves to a new, 5,500 seat state-of-the-art facility in downtown Oshawa.
About the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
As the province's newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading-edge research, and hands-on skills. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, UOIT offers career-focused undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business and information technology, sciences, engineering, nursing, social science, and education.
The university is committed to research excellence and has attracted significant research grants and awards including a Tier 1 Research Chair. Sharing facilities and selected services with Durham College, UOIT has attracted over 3,000 students since its inception in 2003. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.
About Durham College
For close to 40 years, Durham College has been committed to providing job-focused programs, accomplished professors, quality-driven innovation, student success and superior accountability. Our college has ranked first in provincial indicators for student satisfaction in the GTA for seven years running, and at a 93.1 per cent grad employment rate, we have the highest ranking of the six GTA colleges. We've got over 5,800 full-time and 23,000 part-time students enrolled in just under 100 programs, as well as about 2,000 apprentices. For more information, visit our website at www.durhamcollege.ca, or call 905.721.2000.
About General Motors of Canada
Headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, General Motors of Canada employs more than 20,000 people nationwide. GM Canada has a longstanding history of supporting amateur sports across the country and developing athletes of all levels. GM of Canada manufactures a variety of vehicles, engines, transmissions and other components, and markets the full range of General Motors vehicles and related services through 765 dealerships and retailers across Canada. Vehicles sold through this network include Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer, Saab and Cadillac.
For more information contact:
Michael O'Beirne
Generals Hockey Inc.
905.433.0900 ext. 222
mobeirne@oshawagenerals.com
OSHAWA, Ont. - The Oshawa Generals in partnership with the City of Oshawa, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College announced today their intention to formally bid for the honour of hosting the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
Hosted by Roger Lajoie, a sports radio host with The Fan 590 in Toronto, today's announcement was made at the Campus Ice Centre located at the UOIT/Durham College campus just two days after the 2006 MasterCard Memorial Cup concluded in Moncton, New Brunswick.
"The City of Oshawa and our legion of loyal fans have supported the Generals for seven decades. The downtown Sports and Entertainment Facility due to open in November of 2006 will soon be acknowledged as the finest junior hockey facility in Canada," said John Davies, owner of the Oshawa Generals. "These two factors coupled with our dynamic, young team combine to create an exceptionally strong bid for the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup."
Davies introduced UOIT President Dr. Gary Polonsky as the chairman of the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup bid committee that hopes to bring the prestigious national junior hockey championship tournament to Durham Region.
"We're making national sports history by bidding for the honour of hosting one of Canadian hockey's biggest events. With our outstanding facilities and a major sponsor already on board, we're going to put together a fantastic bid," said Dr. Gary Polonsky, president of UOIT and committee chairman.
General Motors of Canada, with its national headquarters in Oshawa, will support the bid process. "General Motors of Canada is excited to support Oshawa's bid for the 2008 Memorial Cup," said Michael Grimaldi, president, General Motors of Canada. "The Oshawa Generals, the City of Oshawa and GM should be a winning partnership."
The Canadian Hockey League awards the 10-day, four-team tournament to each of its three member leagues (the Ontario Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League) once every three years. In 2008, it is the OHL's turn to host the tournament and the Generals have formed a committee that they believe will enhance their bid to host the Cup, which will be awarded for the 90th time that year.
"Hosting Canada's premier hockey tournament will not only attract a significant boom to our local economy but will provide our residents with an unparalleled level of entertainment and excitement," said City of Oshawa Mayor John Gray. "The Memorial Cup championship is a world class event and it belongs in a world class city like Oshawa."
About The Oshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals were formed in 1937, with the 2007/2008 season marking the 70th anniversary of one of the OHL's most distinguished franchises. The Generals have won 12 OHL championships, four Memorial Cups and have had more than 150 players graduate to careers in the National Hockey League. In October, 2006 the team moves to a new, 5,500 seat state-of-the-art facility in downtown Oshawa.
About the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
As the province's newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading-edge research, and hands-on skills. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, UOIT offers career-focused undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business and information technology, sciences, engineering, nursing, social science, and education.
The university is committed to research excellence and has attracted significant research grants and awards including a Tier 1 Research Chair. Sharing facilities and selected services with Durham College, UOIT has attracted over 3,000 students since its inception in 2003. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.
About Durham College
For close to 40 years, Durham College has been committed to providing job-focused programs, accomplished professors, quality-driven innovation, student success and superior accountability. Our college has ranked first in provincial indicators for student satisfaction in the GTA for seven years running, and at a 93.1 per cent grad employment rate, we have the highest ranking of the six GTA colleges. We've got over 5,800 full-time and 23,000 part-time students enrolled in just under 100 programs, as well as about 2,000 apprentices. For more information, visit our website at www.durhamcollege.ca, or call 905.721.2000.
About General Motors of Canada
Headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, General Motors of Canada employs more than 20,000 people nationwide. GM Canada has a longstanding history of supporting amateur sports across the country and developing athletes of all levels. GM of Canada manufactures a variety of vehicles, engines, transmissions and other components, and markets the full range of General Motors vehicles and related services through 765 dealerships and retailers across Canada. Vehicles sold through this network include Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer, Saab and Cadillac.
For more information contact:
Michael O'Beirne
Generals Hockey Inc.
905.433.0900 ext. 222
mobeirne@oshawagenerals.com
About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.
Media contact
Allison Rosnak
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2513
allison.rosnak@dc-uoit.ca
