FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2000

OLYMPIC MEDALIST NANCY DROLET JOINS VANCOUVER GRIFFINS

VANCOUVER - Philip DeGrandpre, General Manager of the Vancouver Griffins Hockey Club, proudly announced today that Nancy Drolet is the newest member of his team's roster. The Olympic silver medallist, 5-time World Champion and 7-time National Champion will serve as the Griffins' first captain. Ms. Drolet was captain and the leading goal scorer last season for the NWHL East Division Champion St. Julie Panthers, and was a member of the 1999-2000 NWHL All Star Team.

"I am very pleased to be joining the Griffins. It was the biggest decision in my career to date, but I am sure it is the best one to help me achieve my dreams. I am looking forward to getting to know my teammates and working with them to make this season a successful one," said Drolet. "The NWHL is very new to Western Canada. I know that Vancouver is a great hockey town so I hope to be a leader for young players and an ambassador for the Griffins, the league, and the game," she continued.

"Nancy is a player than excels both on and off the ice - she is truly the Wayne Gretzky of women's hockey," said DeGrandpre. "Along with her offensive skills, she brings leadership, work ethic, and experience to the Griffins. She knows what it takes to be successful, and will contribute to the development of our younger players, women's hockey in B.C and across Canada."

Originally from Drummondville, Quebec, Ms. Drolet has received a number of awards in her 22-year hockey career. She was named Most Valuable Player in three world championship final games - 1992, 1997 and again in 2000. She scored a hat trick in 1992 and then repeated the magic in 1997 scoring another three goals including the over-time game winner. Last year, in Mississauga, the entire country held its collective breath as she scored the overtime winner for the second time to win the 2000 World Championship gold medal. With that game winning goal, Canada was to remain undefeated at the Worlds with a record of 30-0 and 6 gold medals. Nancy identifies her next challenges as winning an Olympic gold medal, winning the NWHL Cup and helping to build a strong professional league so young hockey players can realize their own individual dreams.

Nancy will begin practicing with the team in mid-October after participating in a National Team camp in Calgary, October 3 -10. Her first official games in a Griffins jersey will be against the NWHL's Brampton Thunder from Ontario on Saturday, October 14th at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 15th at 12:15 p.m. at Queens Park Arena. The Thunder are home to four of Drolet's national teammates - All Stars Jayna Hefford, Vicky Sunohara, Lori Dupuis and Sami-Jo Small. Tickets are just $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and are available through Ticketmaster at 280-4400 or www.ticketmaster.ca.

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