Bettman, Daly, Shanahan, Burke, Regier, Yzerman to attend Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit

TORONTO -- Commissioner Gary Bettman, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, VP Hockey and Business Development Brendan Shanahan and three current general managers -- Toronto's Brian Burke, Tampa Bay's Steve Yzerman and Buffalo's Darcy Regier -- will represent the NHL when the top thinkers and decision-makers in the hockey world come together to discuss the game at all its levels Aug. 23-26 in Toronto for the Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit.

The Summit's Steering Committee has announced the first group of executives and current and former players who will play instrumental roles at the first international hockey summit in 14 years. The initial list of confirmed speakers, presenters and panelists includes 26 men and women who were listed among The Hockey News' most recent edition of "One Hundred People of Power and Influence."

Burke and Yzerman will be joined by Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and Canadian women's hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser to comprise the Summit Leadership Team.

Among the key themes the Summit's various presentations and panel discussions will explore:

• Evaluation of the 2010 Olympic hockey tournaments in Vancouver.
• Player skill development initiatives.
• Challenges facing grassroots, youth and junior programs around the world.
• Establishing a long-term Global Hockey Agenda regarding international competition, interaction and cooperation.
• Closing the women's hockey gap with North America.
• Growing articipation in hockey.
• Contracts, international transfers and agents ethics.

IIHF President René Fasel will head the contingent representing international hockey that also will include KHL President Alexander Medvedev, longtime Swiss national team coach Ralph Krueger, German national team coach Uwe Krupp, IIHF Hall of Famer and NY Rangers pro scout Anders Hedberg and the entire 13-member IIHF Council. The NHL Players Association will be represented by Mike Ouellet (Chief of Business Affairs), Alfredsson and NHLPA certified agents Don Baizley, Pat Brisson and Don Meehan.

In addition to Yzerman and Wickenheiser, Hockey Canada will be represented by President Bob Nicholson and women's national team coach Mel Davidson. Burke will be joined in representing USA Hockey by  Executive Director Dave Ogrean, assistant executive director of hockey operations Jim Johannson, 1980 gold-medalist and women's national team coach Mark Johnson, four-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero and Philadelphia Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette.

The Canadian Hockey League will be represented by its president, David Branch, and two-time Memorial Cup-winning coach Bob Boughner of the Windsor Spitfires.
   
Some of Canada's best-known broadcasters -- including Pierre McGuire, Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger and Gord Miller -- will moderate the various topic discussions. The Summit will open with Hot Stove Sessions at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night, Aug. 23. The two Tuesday (Aug. 24) sessions will take place at the Air Canada Centre. The Wednesday and Thursday (Aug. 25 and 26) sessions will be held at the Shearton Downtown, the Summit's official hotel.

For more information and to register, go to www.worldhockeysummit.com. Media wishing to cover the World Hockey Summit should e-mail their contact information to: [email protected]. The complete schedule list of all participants will be announced by mid-July.