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IHL's Lumberjacks To Develop Wild Prospects
[May 10, 2000] -- SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota Wild Executive Vice President/General Manager Doug Risebrough announced today a full affiliation agreement between the Wild and the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League (IHL). Cleveland will serve as the primary development affiliate for the Wild's non-NHL roster players. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Wild has agreed to supply Cleveland with players, coaches and hockey operations staff, and the Lumberjacks will serve as the Wild's primary development affiliate, preparing the club's players for the rigors of the National Hockey League.
"The Wild organization is very happy to have reached an affiliation agreement with the Cleveland Lumberjacks," said Risebrough. "It is critical for an expansion team to have a successful development affiliate, which is what we believe the Lumberjacks organization offers. Cleveland is a great sports city, which will be a welcome atmosphere for developing our young talent."
The Cleveland Lumberjacks compete in the Eastern Conference of the IHL. The Lumberjacks finished this season with a 40-30-12 record, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. They defeated Milwaukee two games to one in a best-of-three series in the first round of the Turner Cup playoffs, and lost to Grand Rapids in the second round, four games to two in a best-of-seven series.
"Doug Risebrough has won Stanley Cup championships as a player and as a coach," commented Lumberjacks General Manager Larry Gordon. "He knows what it takes to build a winner and is an excellent judge of young talent."
The Lumberjacks franchise has been in existence for 37 years, originating as the Muskegon (Mich.) Zephyrs in 1960-65. The team's name changed twice to the Mohawks (1965-84) and the Lumberjacks (1985-92) before the franchise relocated to Cleveland in 1992-93. The Lumberjacks played two seasons at the Richfield Coliseum before moving into the new Gund Arena for the 1994-95 season.
MINNESOTA WILD TAKES ON THE SAN JOSE SHARKS AT ROSE GARDEN ON SEPTEMBER 19THThe NHL's Newest Member Opens Exhibition Season and Franchise Play
[May 10, 2000] -- SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The National Hockey League's (NHL) Minnesota Wild will play the franchise's first pre-season game against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, September 19th at 7:00 p.m. (P.D.T.) at Portland's Rose Garden. Tickets for the first-ever Minnesota Wild game go on sale at 10:00 a.m. (P.D.T.) on Saturday, May 13th at all Portland area Ticketmaster outlets.
The Wild were granted an expansion franchise on June 25, 1997 by the National Hockey League's Board of Governors. The Minnesota Wild begins play in the Northwest Division of the NHL's Western Conference this fall with a new 18,600-seat home in downtown Saint Paul, the New Saint Paul Arena. The team's Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Risebrough is a five-time Stanley Cup winner.
The San Jose Sharks, a 1991-1992 expansion team, will enter the 2000-2001 NHL campaign as a team to watch. The Sharks eliminated last season's President's Trophy winners, the St. Louis Blues during opening round Stanley Cup action, before being eliminated from the playoffs by the defending Stanley Cup Champion Dallas Stars in the second round. The Sharks are coached by Darryl Sutter and led by left wing Jeff Friesen, defenseman Bryan Marchment and right wing Owen Nolan.
Tickets prices for the pre-season game are $20.00, $29.00, $34.00 and $50.00 (including convenience charges, add $1.50 to all phone orders). Tickets for the game go on sale Saturday, May 13th at 10:00 a.m. at all Portland Ticketmaster outlets and Rose Quarter Box Office. To purchase tickets call Ticketmaster at (503) 224-4400 or go to www.ticketmaster.com .
Fore more information on Rose Garden, go to www.rosequarter.com or call (503) 797-9617. For more information on the San Jose Sharks, go to www.sj-sharks.com or call (408) 287-7070.
MINNESOTA WILD TO FACE-OFF AGAINST THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS IN WINNIPEGMinnesota Wild and IHL'S Manitoba Moose to co-promote Saturday, September 23rd game at Winnipeg Arena as part of September's Moose Mania month
[May 10, 2000] -- SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The National Hockey League's (NHL) Minnesota Wild face-off against division rival Vancouver Canucks in a pre-season contest on Saturday, September 23rd at 4:00 p.m. (C.D.T.) from Winnipeg Arena. The Minnesota Wild and IHL's Manitoba Moose will co-promote the NHL pre-season game as part of Moose Mania month. Tickets for the only NHL game in Winnipeg this season go on sale Thursday, May 18th at 9:30 a.m. (C.D.T.)
The Wild were granted an expansion franchise on June 25, 1997 by the National Hockey League's Board of Governors. The Minnesota Wild begins play in the Northwest Division of the NHL's Western Conference this fall with a new 18,600-seat home in downtown Saint Paul, the New Saint Paul Arena. The team's Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Risebrough is a five-time Stanley Cup winner.
The Vancouver Canucks are coached by Marc Crawford and led on the ice by center Mark Messier, right wing Marcus Naslund and veteran goaltender Felix Potvin. In 1999-2000, the Canucks finished third in the Northwest Division with 83 points (30-37-15-8). During the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, the Canucks laid the foundation for the team's future drafting Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin with the second and third overall picks.
Ticket prices for the pre-season game are $15.00, $22.00, $30.00 and $39.00 (Canadian dollars - All purchases subject to convenience charges). Tickets for the game go on sale Thursday, May 18th at 9:30 a.m. at all Select-A-Seat outlets and the Winnipeg Arena Box Office or call Select-A-Seat at 1-888-780-SEAT (7328).
For more information on the Manitoba Moose, go to www.mywinnipeg.com or call (204) 987-7825. For more information on the Vancouver Canucks, go to www.canucks.com or call (604) 899-4600.