Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - Submitted by Craig Douglas
PRESS RELEASE
TOUGH GUYS TO CAPTAIN TOUR DOWN UNDER
NHL Ice Hockey hard men KYLE QUINCEY and ZENON KONOPKA have been named as Captains of the Canadian and USA Invitation Teams to play in Melbourne and Sydney this June.
QUINCEY and KONOPKA are both hard hitting defence men who are not afraid of the rough and tumble that Ice Hockey is reputed for.
QUINCEY, currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL will captain the Canadian Team.
KONOPKA, who is a member of the Minnesota Wild in the NHL, and has dual citizenship, will Captain the USA team.
Both players are looking forward to bringing their teams to Australia for the first time.
Kyle Quincey: “Australia has always been a place I've wanted to experience, so to have a chance to do so whilst also doing what I love doing best, playing hockey, I'm thrilled. The trip is extra sweet because we are also raising awareness of concussions through Stop Concussions dot com. Concussions have become a problem in our game and other sporting codes, including those played in Australia and it is important to know when one occurs how to deal with it appropriately. As for the games, with the quality of players we are bringing over, they will be very fast paced and high scoring. Whenever we take on the USA it’s always a good battle, with both sides wanting bragging rights on that plane home”
ZENON Quote “I heard how fantastic the Canada v USA series was in New Zealand, so when I was invited to play in Australia, I jumped at the chance. Then to be asked if I would Captain the team, of course I said yes. It will be an honour. I have played against Kyle on a number of occasions, and we are both ambassadors of Stop Consussions dot com, but that does not mean my USA team are going to lie down for them. Far from it, when our two countries go head to head, it’s do what it takes. Right from an early age, I loved sport, all kinds of sport, and no matter what or who I play, I want to win. This series will be no different. Bring it on Mr Quincey, Bring it on.”
Promoter Craig Douglas, who took a successful International Ice Hockey Tour to NZ in 2011 says he is very excited to have these two high profile NHL players as Captains. “Not only are they fine Hockey players, they lead from the front and are not afraid to deliver what the fans want. Both men are passionate about their sport. On the Ice, they know how to mix it up, look after their team mates and play hard for the win, but off the ice they represent their country and team with dignity and pride.”
Konopka was the most penalized player in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 NHL seasons. But as he says, “I have a responsibility to look after my team mates, and take the necessary action to ensure we are competitive, so expect the same when we head to Australia, it’s the way I play.”
Both players are currently NHL regulars and command wages in the millions of dollars, having played for such teams as the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightening and the New York Islanders.
They are also ambassadors for the Charity ‘Stop Concussions.com’ Billed as an Ice Hockey Spectacular, The International Ice Hockey, Canada v USA series brings you Quincey and Konopka, two hard men looking forward to bringing their own brand of Ice Hockey - spectacular.
Kyle Quincey
#27
Detroit Red Wings
Defenseman
Height : 6’2”
Weight : 207 pds
Shoots : Left
NHL Games : 272
Previous Clubs include: Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings
Kyle Quincey grew up in the Caledon, Ontario area playing most of his minor hockey for the Halton Hurricanes AAA program of the OMHA. He was drafted in the third round (47th overall) of the 2001 OHL Priority Selection by the London Knights.
At the beginning of the 2003–04season in early October, Quincey was traded from the London Knights to the Mississauga IceDogs in a blockbuster deal for star Rob Schremp and helped the IceDogs to the OHL final in 2004. Developing as a offensively able defensive defenceman, Kyle was named in the OHL second All-Star Team in the
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