The biggest crowd ever to see an ice hockey game in the Southern hemisphere will witness intense action on the ice, on Saturday June 22nd, at Sydney’s Allphones Arena, as there is expected to be to be a crowd of well over 18,000.
From New York, National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly stated, "Australian hockey fans should be excited for the opportunity to see current and former NHL players taking the ice in this historic series. It is a great event for hockey and for the worldwide growth of our game. The NHL values its long-standing relationship with Aussie hockey and looks forward to furthering our cooperation in the future."
Rick Williams, former Aussie international referee, is the USA Assistant Coach in Sydney and expects a physical battle with the rivalry between the two hockey giants. “Look for the battle from the benches, which will be so hot that we are lucky the ice doesn’t melt, said Williams. Having refereed at several World Championships, the Swiss National League and an Olympic Consolation, I’m not afraid of what the Canucks plan to throw our way”, said Williams.
Former semi pro goalie ‘David Turik’, from Australia’s famous Warringah Bombers, will help out on the Canadian bench, as their Assistant Coach. David played his college hockey for Illinois State and won several Goodall Cups for New South Wales. The Goodall Cup has been contested as the national senior men's ice hockey trophy in Australia since 1909, making it the fifth oldest known ice hockey trophy still being awarded, after the NHL Stanley Cup. David’s Dad (Frank Turik) is amongst hockey royalty in Canada playing for the1961 World Champion ‘Trail Smoke Eaters’ as well as winning the Memorial Cup, playing for the famous Toronto St Michaels College team.
“I can’t wait to watch our Canadian Captain ‘Kyle Qunicey’ in action said, Turik. Qunicey is currently a stalwart on the Detroit Red Wings defence and is still in top form having just recently featured in the Stanley Cup play-offs.”
USA Assistant Coach, Rick Williams said, “our US Captain ‘Zenon Konopka’, of the Minnesota Wild, will make end to end rushes carving through the Canadian players like Wallabies (Fullback) Israel Folau will do to the British and Irish Lions’.
All in all, this will be the first time that current NHLers will play in Australia and in front of a record crowd, it promises to be a spectacular exhibition of the world’s fastest team sport.
Footnote:
A sold-out Allphones Arena, with over 18,000 spectators, will witness ice hockey history Down Under. The world-class facility has been modelled after the Staples Centre in L.A. and Australia, for the first time, will experience the excitement of what it’s like to be at an NHL game. Promoter Craig Douglas of Douglas Webber Group says Sydney and Melbourne will see their venues transformed into a temporary House of Hockey with the installation of a portable NHL spec ice rink, and no expense will be spared in providing an authentic American ice hockey experience with onsite broadcasting on the massive Jumbotron screens, sound and lighting effects, and authentic North American announcers.
For media enquiries including requests to attend the media conference with the players on Thursday 20th June, please contact 6dc:
Rebecca Lucas, Libby Teale or Amanda Fry
Ph: 02 9280 1600 or 0415 158 229
E: rebecca@6dc.com.au, libby@6dc.com.au or amanda@6dc.com.au
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