WINNIPEG, MB – The 2011 Hockey Manitoba Cup presented by Travel Manitoba – Adult Rec Provincial Championships are ready to begin later this week at the MTS Iceplex in Winnipeg. The provincial event will officially run April 21-23rd with several games scheduled on Wednesday, April 20th for local Winnipeg teams. This year a total of 48 teams will compete in 6 different divisions which will be another fun celebration of hockey in our province as was the case with the inaugural Hockey Manitoba Cup in 2010. Nearly half of the teams entered this year are rural based from as far as Churchill, Flin Flon and Souris.

Hockey Manitoba is pleased to offer participants an unrivalled experience, unlike any other adult recreational tournament in the country. The Hockey Manitoba Cup will feature several internal promotions such as the Power 97 Team Party Social, Boston Pizza Team Headquarters, and the Team Manitoba Draft for the chance to play in one of three exhibition mini-gamesversus the Winnipeg Jets Alumni & Friends.

The Power 97 Team Party Social takes place on Thursday evening at the Press Box Restaurant & Sports Bar and will be hosted by Philly & Rena of Power 97. The Power 97 Team Party Social will also feature a special hockey guest interview with Quinton Howden (Oakbank, MB). Howden currently of the Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) was a Florida Panthers first round draft pick in 2010 and was selected to Team Canada for the 2011 World Junior Championships earlier this season. The Power 97 Team Party Social will begin at 8:30 PM and entry will be $5 per person. To promote the fight against impaired driving Hockey Manitoba is pleased to provide a shuttle that will leave the MTS Iceplex at 12:30 AM and again at 1:30 AM to Canad Inns Polo Park and Radisson Hotel downtown.

The Team Manitoba Draft will also take place on Thursday evening during the Power 97 Team Party Social. Names will be announced of the players who are selected to play for Team Manitoba against the Winnipeg Jets Alumni & Friends on Friday, April 22nd in one of three mini-games between 2:00 – 4:30 PM. The players selected will go through a professional draft-like experience as their name will be called to come up and receive their Team Manitoba jersey. As an added bonus, the top 3 playerswho bring out the most fans to support them at the alumni game will win a team gift card of $250, $150, or $50.

Another great perk of the event is the Boston Pizza Team Headquarters with each Hockey Manitoba Cup team receiving two complimentary pizzas and team specials all weekend long from Boston Pizza. In addition, Boston Pizza will once again take part in the Hockey Manitoba Cup Player of the Game program by sponsoring 60 round-robin game awards throughout the weekend. Full tournament details can be found at www.hockeymanitoba.ca/hmc.php.

2011 HOCKEY MANITOBA CUP TEAMS:

Beausejour Beavers

Berens River Bullets

Brandon Vipers

Churchill Warriors

Dominion City Venom

Dugald 98's

East St. Paul Aces

Flin Flon Whoopers

Gilbert Plains Rink Rats

Gimli Fillets

Glenwood Stars

Headingley Rusty Joints

Motown Wings

Neepawa Natives

New Bothwell Whistle Pigs

Pinawa Panthers

Roblin North Stars

Selkirk Wings

Souris Gorillas

Southeast Regal Women

St. Adolphe North Stars

St. Adolphe Silverbacks

St. Vital Shafts

Starbuck Buzzards

Three Nations Stars

Teulon Bushwackers

Warren Falcons

Winnipeg Beavers

Winnipeg Butter Fingers

Winnipeg Comets

Winnipeg Eagles

Winnipeg Falcons

Winnipeg Fire Department

Winnipeg Fishstix

Winnipeg For Serious

Winnipeg Hoggs

Winnipeg Hot Wings

Winnipeg Moobs

Winnipeg Mustangs

Winnipeg Nuclear Winter

Winnipeg Out of the Blue

Winnipeg Pigs

Winnipeg Piston Broke

Winnipeg Silver Bullets

Winnipeg Stray Cats

Winnipeg Twisters

Winnipeg Weekend Warriors

Winnipeg Young Guns