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CRFC & Hockey Canada Offer National Arena Symposium T he IIHF World Championship will be held in Canada in May of 2008 for the first time ever. A National Arena Symposium will also be offered to focus on leading-edge arena operations topics. The Canadian Recreation Facilities Council (CRFC) is comprised of 13 Provincial and Territorial facility associations, which represent in excess of 10,000 members across Canada. It has partnered with Hockey Canada to organize the National Arena Symposium in Quebec City from May 4-5, 2008. Partnering with Hockey Canada, as part of the larger Hockey Conference including the International Coaches Conference and the Officiating Summit, will provide the CRFC with significant opportunities. CRFC Chair Randy Kinnee stresses the significance of being part of a National Arena Symposium that will bring together grassroots officials, members of the international ice hockey federation, owners/operators and managers of Canada's largest sports facilities at one event. This will provide a superb opportunity for unparalleled interaction between the users and the owners of hockey arenas and will bring to the forefront recurring and emerging issues, as well as provide a forum that will foster a better understanding of the relationship between the owners and the users of Canada's 3,000 ice surfaces. Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson emphasizes the importance of Hockey Canada's partnership with CRFC, noting that, as one of the key user groups of arenas across Canada, Hockey Canada must continue to work closely with the CRFC and the Provincial/ Territorial associations on related topics and issues facing facilities today. For more information, call 416-426- 7062 or log on to crfc.ca. Sport Resource Group Teams up with USA Hockey S port Resource Group (Minneapolis, MN) is proud to announce a new licensing agreement with USA Hockey. Sport Resource Group has been a long- standing national supplier of the popular Cross Ice Divider and Mini Mite Goals, which can be found in rinks across America. "We have always felt that at the heart of hockey throughout the United States were the community ice facilities, the youth players, youth coaches, volunteers and organizations. By supplying the highest- quality Cross Ice Hockey dividers and Mini Mite goals, we feel we are making an important investment in the sport at the most important level—the grassroots level," said Sport Resource Group President Chris Guertin. In conjunction with this announcement, Sport Resource Group is proud to announce that all USA Hockey organizations and facilities will receive 10% off any Cross Ice orders this season AND will receive a free USA Hockey "Skills and Drills" DVD. For more information, call 888-808-RINK, ext. 251 or log on to sportresourcegroup.com. 8 R INK MAGAZ INE sept ember/october 2007 Industry news ■ News & notes from around the rink industry. Athletic Republic Gives Rinks Ice Time W ith the patented Hockey Treadmill and Acceleration Training program from Athletic Republic™, athletes improve their mechanics and strength to increase skating speed and anaerobic capacity without ever stepping on the ice. But they do so while wearing their skates. Since the Hockey Treadmill was first introduced by John Frappier in 1993, players of all ages and levels of ability — from PeeWees to pros — have trained on the most revolutionary piece of hockey equipment since the Zamboni. When used in conjunction with Athletic Republic's patented SprintCords™ and plyometric protocols, players learn how to skate faster and more efficiently, while developing quickness, agility, balance and stamina. Find out what 56 hockey programs and facilities around the country already know: an Athletic Republic Hockey Franchise can be a performance enhancer for your bottom line. To learn how to develop athletes' on-ice skill without adding another sheet of ice, call 888-226-3278 or visit athleticrepublic.com. ATHLETIC REPUBLIC

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