FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2000

CANUCKS ALUMNI WIN THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES

Burnaby - The Vancouver Canucks Alumni team defeated the Vancouver Griffins 13-10 in an exhibition game on Saturday night played at Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby. Fan favorites Richard Brodeur, Darcy Rota, Gary Nyland, and Jiri Bubla faced off against Griffin captain Nancy Drolet and her teammates, in their first match ever against an all-female squad. Approximately 800 fans were on hand to cheer the two teams on. Proceeds from the game are being donated to the BC Hockey Benevolent Society, which supports charities such as Canuck Place, Camp Goodtimes, and the Larry Ashely scholarship fund.

Along with an entertaining hockey game, the night was full of pranks on both sides. Griffin forward Danielle Grundy scored the first goal for the women, receiving a Canuck jersey and a pie in the face for her efforts. During one of the final plays of the game when the Griffins were down 9-13, all 19 members of the Griffins squad took to the ice and scored on the play. Alumni Alec Tidey and the Griffins' Elaine Topolnisky each earned a hat trick on the night.

Established in January of this year, the Vancouver Griffins are the newest franchise in the 10-team NWHL, the world's premier women's hockey league. The Griffins compete in the SCFAHL and are playing an exhibition schedule in the NWHL this season. They will begin full interlocking play in the NWHL in 2001-2002. According to CHA statistics, participation in female hockey has grown by more than 400% in the last 10 years, making it among the fastest growing sports in the world.

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