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U.S.EWHA
PowerHockey News Release: 5/16/2000
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Minnesota -- Craig McClellan -- 763-535-4736 -- [email protected]
Detroit -- Gary Lullove (daytime) 1-800-275-6328 ext. 319
Tom Martin -- 248-486-9744
DETROIT-BASED WHEELCHAIR HOCKEY LEAGUE (WCHL) PREPARES FOR FIRST
ELITE COMPETITION. MEDIA DAY IS THURSDAY, MAY 18, AT OAKLAND COMMUNITY
COLLEGE IN SOUTHFIELD, MI.
[May 16, 2000] -- Detroit-based WCHL will be sending a wheelchair
hockey team to Toronto, Canada, to compete against some of the best
players in the world this weekend, May 20-21. Detroit will be a
part of the Canadian Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association National
Tournament.
Teams competing in Toronto include; Calgary Selects, Toronto Selects,
Vancouver, SW-Ontario and the Minnesota Stars.
To kick of an exciting weekend, the Minnesota-based U.S. Electric
Wheelchair Hockey Association's (U.S. EWHA) traveling team, Minnesota
Stars, is traveling to Detroit, Thursday May 18, to be a part of
Media Day. We encourage you to cover this exciting story. It will
be an eye-opening experience.
Minnesota and Detroit will play a couple of promotional/practice
games at the Oakland Community College, from 6-9pm. This will be
the Detroit players first ever competition with players outside
of Michigan. As with any sports program, rules vary a little bit
from league to league. The general concept of wheelchair hockey
is very similar between the U.S. EWHA and WCHL. However the WCHL
players will have to adjust to the U.S. EWHA & CEWHA rules for
the Toronto tournament. The Minnesota Stars will help Detroit learn
some of the unique rules, so Detroit can have a successful weekend
in Toronto.
The Minnesota Stars have competed against top players in the world
since 1993. In 1993 (before the U.S. EWHA was created) the Stars
competed in Erlangen, Germany. In 1995 the Stars traveled to Toronto,
becoming the first non-Canadian team to ever play in Canada. In
1996 the Stars played in Calgary, Alberta. In 1998 the Stars won
their first international trophy, in London (Ont.) becoming the
first US team to win a title.
"We (U.S. EWHA) are very excited to be involved with the WCHL
and players from Detroit this year. It truly is an historical marking
for wheelchair hockey, being the first time two US teams, from different
states will compete," said Craig McClellan, U.S. EWHA president
and Minnesota Stars Captain. "We look forward to working with
the WCHL of Detroit on many future occasions."
The U.S. EWHA was founded in early 1996 by members of the first
electric (power) wheelchair hockey team in Minnesota. Our mission
is to provide a quality hockey program for persons requiring the
use of an electric (power) wheelchair in daily life. Our program,
PowerHockey™, is a competitive sports opportunity for the physically
disabled.
For more information on both hockey programs please visit these
web pages;
http://www.PowerHockey.com
http://www.scorezone.com/wchl
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