HOCKEY TO BE ADDED TO LIST OF SPORTS AT THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY

For Release: April 6, 2009

Kamloops, BC—Efforts are underway to start a hockey program at Thompson Rivers University. If successful, the society based organization would start play this fall.

“It’s another step in our growth as a post secondary institution,” stated WolfPack Athletic Director Ken Olynyk.  Adding that this program, like golf and baseball, have been given the ‘endorsement’ of the Athletic department. Like the other two sports, a society will be responsible for fundraising and the players would have to ‘pay a fee’ to play.

The WolfPack Collegiate Hockey Society consists of a number of people from throughout the community.  They are headed by Mitchell Zulinick, Chief Operating Officer of Arrow Transport.   Other members include Chris Hans and Troy Clifford—two long-time members of the Kamloops Minor Hockey Association; Andre Larouche, Director – Business Intelligence Open Learning – Thompson Rivers University;  and Arlin Friesen, Associate Director, Ancillary Services – Business Operations Thompson Rivers University. Zulinick will act as society president, Hans as Director of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Clifford will be Director of Hockey Administration and Support, Larouche will serve as Director of Operations and Development and the Director of Communications and Marketing will be Friesen.

“We are very excited about the prospect of Collegiate Hockey returning to Kamloops. Hockey is an integral and vital part of the city.  We are hoping this will be a cornerstone program that will allow high quality athletes to simultaneously pursue their ambitions as hockey players while building their academic foundations at Thompson Rivers University,” says Zulinick. “ Ideally,many of these athletes will stay within our community after their graduation. Our goal, as the newly formed WolfPack Collegiate Hockey Society, is to bring high quality collegiate hockey to Thompson Rivers University and the City of Kamloops.” He adds.

The prospective team, which will play in the British Columbia Inter-Collegial Hockey League, will play for the BC Amateur Hockey Association Senior “C” title.  The league had five teams in 2007-08: Selkirk College, SFU, Trinity Western, U Vic and the University of the Fraser Valley.  TRU and a team based out of UBC Okanagan in Kelowna are expected to join this year.   That expansion will be decided at the league’s AGM in May.

The WolfPack Collegiate Hockey Society has the endorsement of TRU, and will be working closely with the Kamloops Blazers and the Kamloops Storm. In addition, the society has been in supportive discussions with the City of Kamloops and additional community stakeholders as the initiative moves forward.

The group is actively seeking prospective players and individuals for hockey positions; however finalization will only be once the team gets final approval from the BCIHL. Training camps are planned for August of 2009.

For further info: Mitchell Zulinick (250) 374-3831 Pres, WolfPack Collegiate Hockey Society or Troy Clifford   (250) 319-4713 troyclifford@shaw.ca