EHL Top Four Final Draw

EHL Press Release The reigning EHL Champions of Metallurg Magnitogorsk will officially open, at the Resega Arena of Lugano on Saturday the 5th February, the Skoda Auto European Hockey League Top Four Final, facing the Finnish champions of TPS Turku. The Top Four Final organiser, HC Lugano, will play in the evening game against Czech HC Sparta Praha. This was the result of the draw which took place this morning at the Ristorante Kursaal of Lugano, at the presence of the EHL Director, Federico Saviozzi. "It is a pleasure for the International Ice Hockey Federation to be host here in Lugano - said Saviozzi, - and we are fully confident in the perfect organisation of the Top Four Final, between the four best European clubs. It is not a mere luck if these four clubs have qualified for the EHL's final stage, on the contrary, they have demonstrated their value in the Division Round and the Semi-final Round. We are expecting two days of intense, thrilling, exciting, high-quality games and no matter who the winner of the EHL Silver Stone will be, I am sure that the Top Four Final will turn into an incredible success". The draw was managed by Alfio Molina, the legendary goalie of HC Lugano and the Swiss National Team in the 70's and 80's. "I hope my hand was hot enough and will help Lugano to win the EHL" he said. Two former EHL Champions will meet to advance to the gold medal game, as TPS Turku won the inaugural EHL season in the 1996/97 season and Metallurg Magnitogorsk triumphed in the 1998/99 Top Four Final tournament in Moscow, Russia. In the EHL history, the EHL Silver Stone, the trophy assigned to the winner of the tournament, has always remained in the country organiser of the Top Four Final: Finland (TPS Turku), Austria (VEU Feldkirch) and Russia (Metallurg Magnitogorsk). Beat Kaufmann, general manager of HC Lugano, expressed his great satisfaction. "I am sure I can speak on behalf of the entire management of HC Lugano, of the city, of our fans, when I say that we all are extremely proud of what Lugano has managed so far. It is a success to have reached the Top Four Final in our first EHL appearance, it is an even bigger success to have been appointed by the EHL as organisers of the Top Four Final. We will work hard in these weeks to show them they made the right choice. This represents an unforgettable event for our club, I hope one day we will look behind our backs and be proud of what we have done". Also Werner Kohler, President of the Swiss National Association, showed his satisfaction: "This is a great moment for Switzerland and for the Ticino Region in particular. After Ambrý Piotta's triumph in the Continental Cup I am now dreaming of a Lugano's success. It would be something fantastic if Lugano and Ambrý could then meet for the IIHF Super Cup". The starting time of the games will de announced early next week after consultation of the EHL, CWL Telesport, the National broadcasters and HC Lugano. The winners of the two games of Saturday, February 5, will meet the day after for the EHL gold medal game, the losers will play for the bronze medal. In case of tie result after the 60 minutes, a 10 minutes overtime will be played on Saturday games and in the bronze medal game, while a 20 minute overtime will be played in the gold medal game. EHL Top Four Final: Saturday, February 5, 2000 Game no. 57 Metallurg Magnitogorsk - TPS Turku Game no. 58 HC Lugano - HC Sparta Praha Sunday, February 6, 2000 Loser Game no. 57 - Loser Game no. 58 Winner Game no. 57 - Winner Game no. 58 For further information please contact: Paolo Ianieri EHL Media and Communication Manager Tel: +41 1 289 86 07 Mobile: +41.79 200 8829 E-Mail: ianieri@iihf.com