December 16, 2000
Christmas
in Russia for Touring Team of Canadian students
From December 24,
2000 to January 3, 2001, a team formed of gifted students who represent
its Canadian League will compete with some of the teams of the Higher
League (second Russian league). The organizer of this New Year’s tour,
John Makintosh, is the representative of the International Christian
Company named Athletes in Action.
He
comments on the coming event; "I think CSK WWS of Samara will be one
of the best opponents for our student team. I also know that the Russian
teams have lots of skillful players who are of the same age, 19-24 years
old, as ours." The head coach for the Canadian team is David Cory,
the coach who works with one of the teams of the Canadian Student League.
John Makintosh also added, “We’ll bring to Russia the players who have
hopes to be drafted by NHL teams. We have a long journey all over Russia.
On December 24-25 we play in TVER against the affiliate of Dynamo Moscow.
Then, on December 27-28 we’ll compete with Crystal of Saratov. On
December 30 it will be another strong rivalry with CSK WWS of Samara and
we plan to finish our tour on January 3 in Voskresensk, near Moscow.”
Below
is more information about Athletes in Action's Russian tour and the
roster:
RUSSIAN
HOCKEY
CANADA
vs RUSSIA: Between
Dec. 22nd and Jan 5th Athletes in Action will be
taking a team of elite hockey players to Russia where they will embark
upon a 8 game schedule against teams from the Russian Professional League
1st Division. The AIA team will consist of current and former Canadian
players from CIAU (Canadian Universities), Major Junior, Junior A Tier II,
Junior B, and Canadian Colleges.
THE
SCHEDULE:
DEC.
23
ARRIVE IN MOSCOW
DEC. 24
GAME AT TVER
DEC. 25
GAME AT TVER
DEC. 26
PRACTISE AND TRAVEL TO SARATOV
DEC. 27
GAME AT SARATOV
DEC. 28
GAME AT SARATOV
DEC. 29
PRACTICE, AND TRAVEL TO SAMARA
DEC. 30
GAME AT SAMARA
DEC. 31
TRAVEL TO MOSCOW
JAN. 1
MOSCOW
JAN. 2
GAME AT MOSCOW
JAN. 3
GAME AT VOSKSRECENSE
JAN.
4
GAME AT ELECTROSTAD
JAN. 5
FLY HOME
ABOUT
ATHLETES IN ACTION:
Athletes in Action is a non-profit Christian Sports Organization that
works with professional and amateur athletes across Canada and around the
world. AIA Canada currently
works with teams in the NBA and CFL, and with varsity athletes on 18
university campuses across Canada, as well as running over 100 youth sport
camps every summer in 10 different sports.
AIA also takes high level teams in multiple sports abroad each year
to compete at the highest level internationally.
Through these tours AIA is able to foster goodwill between
countries, and provide an opportunity for Canadian athletes to have an
experience of a lifetime as they interact with people from other cultures.
In all these endeavors AIA is committed to helping people around
the world maximize their God-given potential by helping them develop
physically, mentally, and spiritually.
HOCKEY
AMBASSADORS: Since
AIA is a Christian mission the AIA team will be involved in good will and
compassion ministry off the ice When
AIA is not playing the players will be speaking to children attending
Russian Hockey schools. In
each of the five cities AIA will have an opportunity to speak with the
young hockey players in these cities.
AIA will also be working alongside local organizations and churches
to set up additional appearances. There
may be some visits to juvenile detention centres and orphanages.
AIA will be producing a player program that will be in Russian and
will display team pictures, explain about the tour, and share about the
Christian mission of AIA.
EXPOSURE:
Through
8 games AIA will likely play in front of 15,000-20,000 Russians.
Through hockey school involvement and other community events AIA
will come in contact with close to 25,000 people in live audiences.
Include various newspaper, radio and TV coverage and the exposure
climbs.
CONTACT
INFORMATION:
TOUR DIRECTOR:
Ryan
Dawson AIA Ottawa Office
TOUR
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR:
Chris
Weins AIA Headquarters
Langley, BC
20385-64th Ave, Langley, BC
V2Y 1N5
1-800-563-1106
Ext. 175
Fax (604)514-2124
Email: chrisw@athletesinaction.com
INSURANCE:
Athletes in Action has taken the necessary precautions in order to
be fully insured for the duration of the tour.
We have full medical insurance for each player and comprehensive
liability insurance to cover any potential incidents on route or
in-country.
THE
ROSTER:
The AIA team will be made up of players from across Canada.
The roster includes players from current and former CIAU teams,
Major Junior, Junior A II, Junior B, and Canadian College teams.
