MEDIA INFORMATION 2003 KELLOGG S WCHA FINAL FIVE March 20, 21, 22 Xcel Energy Center St. Paul, Minnesota Key Contacts WCHA: Doug Spencer (608 829-0100, fax 829-0200, dspencer@mailbag.com) Credentials: Kathy Ross, Minnesota Wild (651 602-5736, fax 651 293-9574, kross@wild.com) TV: Patrick O Connor, Director of Broadcasting, Minnesota Wild (651 602-5714, poconnor@wild.com)
WCHA Directory wcha.com Bruce M. McLeod Commissioner Carol LaBelle Assistant Commissioner Greg Shepherd Supervisor of Officials Administrative Office 2190 South High Street Denver, CO 80210 phone: 303 871-4223 fax: 303 871-2600 clabelle@du.edu Doug Spencer Associate Commissioner for Public Relations Public Relations Office 559 D Onofrio Drive, Ste 103 Madison, WI 53719-2096 phone: 608 829-0100 fax: 608 829-0200 dspencer@mailbag.com Home of 32 NCAA Championship Teams Since 1951 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2002 Members Alaska Anchorage Seawolves Colorado College Tigers Denver Pioneers Michigan Tech Huskies Minnesota Golden Gophers Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Minnesota State Mavericks North Dakota Fighting Sioux St. Cloud State Huskies Wisconsin Badgers Date: February 7, 2003 to: from: re: WCHA Member Teams (Sports Information Directors, Coaches, Athletic Directors, Faculty Reps) Media WCHA Staff (Bruce McLeod, Carol LaBelle, Greg Shepherd) Minnesota Wild Bill Robertson, Kathy Ross, Patrick O Connor, Mike Snee Xcel Energy Center Peter Johns, Chris Kelleher Doug Spencer, Associate Commissioner for Public Relations Misc. 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five Media Information The following information regarding the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five and pertinent materials on tournament format, Final Five media teleconference, tournament schedule of events, overtime procedures, media credentials, broadcast rights and fees, and tournament television, will hopefully address any questions you may have. If you do have questions, please don t hesitate to contact the WCHA s Administrative Office (Bruce McLeod, Carol LaBelle and Greg Shepherd) at 303 871-4223 (clabelle@du.edu), or the WCHA s Public Relations Office (Doug Spencer) at 608 829-0100 (dspencer@mailbag.com). 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five March 20-22 St. Paul, MN
2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media, Welcome to the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five. On behalf of the entire Western Collegiate Hockey Association and Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod, the Minnesota Wild, and Xcel Energy Center, we sincerely appreciate your attendance and support. Following are a few items to assist you in covering the tournament. Credentials and Press Box Media credentials will be available for pick up at the media entrance located inside Gate 1 (SE entrance) of the Xcel Energy Center beginning Thursday, March 20 at 4:30 pm CT. The media entrance will be open 2 1/2 hours prior to the start of each game and will close 15 minutes into the first period of each game. Photo ID will be required for pick up. The credential will be good for all five games. Press box seating assignment charts will be posted in several prominent areas throughout the media working areas. The press box phone number is (651) 726-8600. Phones Media who have requested a dedicated phone line, please make sure you have contacted Chris Monicatti of the Xcel Energy Center to confirm by email at cmonicatti@wild.com or by phone at (651) 602-6026. If you already have a dedicated line at Xcel Energy Center, you are all set. Parking No parking passes are available for the tournament. Parking is available in the RiverCentre Parking Ramp (skyway access) across Kellogg Blvd. from the arena or in numerous ramps nearby. **Television stations requiring TV uplink truck parking, please contact Kathy Ross via email at kross@wild.com or by phone at (651) 602-5736 to secure a spot. Media Information/Game Information/Game Statistics The WCHA will provide complimentary tournament programs, media press kits, and complete game statistics and summaries. In addition, Final Five team Sports Information Directors will have complete press packets available.
Post-Game Press Conferences We will conduct a post-game press conference immediately following each 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five game in the Press Interview Room, located at the Southwest Corner of the Xcel Energy Center, at the base of the Press Elevator (between sections 108-109) and immediately adjacent to the Media Dining Lounge. We will have coaches and selected players in attendance at each press conference. If you have any special requests for certain players, please contact Doug Spencer or the appropriate team sports information director for assistance. Television Coverage The 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five will be telecast live. The Minnesota Wild and Wild Director of Broadcasting Patrick O Connor are producing the telecasts in conjunction with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association on Fox Sports Net North (FSN North). The 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five will be televised in several states including Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Additional markets may also be added. The television schedule for the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five is listed below: Date Game Time CST Television Thursday, March 20 #4 vs #5 7:08 PM Fox Sports Net North Friday, March 21 Semi-final 2:08 PM No Television Semifinal 7:08 PM Fox Sports Net North Saturday, March 22 Third Place Game 2:08 PM Fox Sports Net North Championship Game 7:08 PM Fox Sports Net North (tape delayed in Wis.) TV Timeouts: There will be four 1:00 television timeouts scheduled per period of all five 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five games, to be taken at approximately the 16:00, 12:00, 8:00 and 4:00 marks on the clock. Television timeouts will not be taken during power-plays. Live Internet Audio Coverage The 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five will also be broadcast live over the internet for the third consecutive season via the league s official web site wcha.com. All five games of the championship will be broadcast live on www.wcha.com, with Jim Rich voice of This Week in the WCHA (league s weekly radio show) and Jack Swanson, station manager at KJ102 in Roseau and former play-by-play announcer for University of Wisconsin hockey, handling the commentary. The league will also rotate special guests throughout the broadcasts. Media Meals Meals will be provided to accredited media ONLY between games on both Friday and Saturday in the Media Dining Lounge located at the base of the Press Elevator (between sections 108-109). Note: there will be no press meal on Thursday due to the catered meal provided at the WCHA Awards Ceremony at 4:00 pm that day. Meal tickets will be distributed in the press box during the tournament. Please see Doug Spencer for a meal ticket. We look forward to seeing you throughout the tournament! If you have any additonal questions or concerns, feel free to contact Doug Spencer, WCHA Associate Commissioner for Public Relations, Kathy Ross, Broadcasting & Communications, Minnesota Wild, or any of the WCHA-member sports information directors who will be in attendance throughout the Final Five.
2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five March 20, 21 & 22 Xcel Energy Center St. Paul, MN Determination of WCHA Playoff Champion The championship team of the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five will be presented the Broadmoor Trophy and will receive the Western Collegiate Hockey Association s automatic entry into the NCAA tournament. Awarding of Broadmoor Trophy The Broadmoor Trophy will be presented to the winning team of the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five on ice on Saturday, March 22 immediately after the conclusion of the championship game. Dates and Game Times Thursday, March 20 Team #5 vs Team #4, 7:08 pm CT Friday, March 21 Semi-Final, 2:08 pm CT Semi-Final, 7:08 pm CT Saturday, March 22 3rd Place Game, 2:08 pm CT Broadmoor Trophy Championship Game, 7:08 pm CT 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five Media Teleconference Tuesday, March 18 11 AM CT The Western Collegiate Hockey Association will conduct a teleconference for the media with the Commissioner and the five head coaches whose teams qualify for the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five on Tuesday, March 18 at 11:00 am CT. Final Five qualifying head coaches should phone in to the teleconference by 10:59 am CT at: 1-888-245-7014, followed by passcode 729388#. Media should phone in to the teleconference by 10:59 am CT at: 1-973-935-2025 -973-935-2025, followed by passcode 729388#.
WCHA Overtime Procedures - Playoffs Where advancement in a bracket or the determination of a tournament champion is necessary, any game that results in a tie will be broken by 20-minute sudden-death overtime periods. The ice shall be resurfaced upon completion of regulation play, as well as after each succeeding 20-minute overtime period. Intermissions between overtimes will be the same as during the regular season, or 15 minutes in duration. The teams shall NOT change ends for the entire time that it takes to determine a winner. Media/Photo Credentials Deadline for Requests = March 7th! Requests for working media credentials (print, electronic and photo) for the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five MUST be submitted on the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five Media Credential Request Form (enclosed with this memo, available from your local SID, from the WCHA Public Relations Office at 608 829-0100, via the league s web site at: wcha.com, or from Kathy Ross, Minnesota Wild) as soon as possible and no later than Monday, March 7th. You must fax the completed credential request form by March 7th to: Kathy Ross, Communications Adminstrative Assistant, Minnesota Wild, at: fax #: 651 293-9574 Kathy Ross will be working with Doug Spencer, WCHA Associate Commissioner for Public Relations, on all 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five credential requests. Credential requests will be confirmed via fax or telephone by Kathy Ross. Preference for working media credentials will be given to requests from primary media from the five qualifying institutions, primary Twin Cities-area media, and those who cover the Association and its teams on a regular basis. Other requests will be granted only as press box space at the Xcel Energy Center permits. NEWSPAPER and MAGAZINE outlets will be granted one working MEDIA credential and press box space per outlet (exceptions may be granted upon review of requests). RADIO STATIONS who are granted prior permission by the WCHA to broadcast games live at the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five will be issued two working MEDIA credentials (maximum of three upon review of request). Radio broadcast locations at the Xcel Energy Center will be in the upper press box. Requests from radio stations not broadcasting live from the Xcel Energy Center but who wish to report only on the tournament may be granted one working credential per outlet but only as press box space permits. TELEVISION STATIONS Exclusive live television coverage of the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five is being produced and distributed by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and the Minnesota Wild and absolutely no other live coverage or operation of television cameras inside the Xcel Energy Center during the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five will be permitted, with the exception of post-game press conferences in the interview room. TV stations who wish to report only on the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five must fax their credential request on the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five Media Credential Request Form no later than Friday, March 7th to: Kathy Ross, Communications Adminstrative Assistant, Minnesota Wild, at fax number: 651 293-9574.
Radio Broadcasts & Rights Fees: 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five Each school s regular radio station (play-by-play) will have the right of first refusal for each 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five game (maximum of two per school) involving the team they regularly cover during the season and all broadcast rights must be approved in advance by the WCHA. Host institutions will be consulted on all agreements. Application for working credentials should be faxed on the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five Media Credential Request Form no later than Friday, March 7th to: Kathy Ross, Communications Adminstrative Assistant, Minnesota Wild, at fax number: 651 293-9574. For all 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five games, the following radio broadcast rights fees apply and are to be paid in advance to the WCHA office: $100.00 per game. Upon approval of rights, checks covering appropriate fees should be made payable to: Western Collegiate Hockey Association and remitted IN ADVANCE to: Doug Spencer, Associate Commissioner for Public Relations WCHA, 559 D Onofrio Drive, Ste. 103, Madison, WI 53719. Television Broadcasts: 2003 Kellogg s WCHA FInal Five Exclusive television coverage of the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five is being produced and distributed by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and the Minnesota Wild and absolutely no other live converage or operation of television cameras inside the Xcel Energy Center (except at post-game press conferences) during the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five will be permitted. Please see attached release on television broadcasts. Stations interested in acquiring a feed from the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five must contact: Patrick O Connor, Director of Broadcasting, Minnesota Wild at: 651 602-5714 (poconnor@wild.com). Games will be produced by Patrick O Connor and Rick Lee. The 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five will be televised in several states including Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Additional markets may also be added. The television schedule for the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five is listed below: Date Game Time CST Television Thursday, March 20 #4 vs #5 7:08 PM Fox Sports Net North Friday, March 21 Semi-final 2:08 PM No Television Semifinal 7:08 PM Fox Sports Net North Saturday, March 22 Third Place Game 2:08 PM Fox Sports Net North Championship Game 7:08 PM Fox Sports Net North (tape delayed in Wis.) TV Timeouts: There will be four 1:00 television timeouts scheduled per period of all five 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five games, to be taken at approximately the 16:00, 12:00, 8:00 and 4:00 marks on the clock. Television timeouts will not be taken during power-plays. Media Phone/Radio Lines There will be telephones (for local and outgoing credit card calls only) available throughout the press box as well as the media work room at the Xcel Energy Center. Phone Lines for Radio Broadcasts: Radio stations that have been granted prior permission by the WCHA to broadcast live from the 2003 Kellogg s WCGA Final Five can order phone lines by contacting: MEDIA PHONE LINES: Media needing dedicated phone/radio lines in the Xcel Energy Center press box must contact: Chris Monicatti (cmonicatti@wild.com cmonicatti@wild.com) at: 651 602-6026, in advance. Note: Chris prefers e-mailed requests.
Media Credential Pickup: Media credentials will be available for pick-up at the media entrance in the main lobby at the Xcel Energy Center beginning Thursday, March 20th at 4:30 pm CT. Proper ID will be required for pick-up of credentials. 2003 WCHA Awards Ceremony March 20 4 pm Landmark Center The Western Collegiate Hockey Association s annual Awards Ceremony to honor the league s individual award winners and kickoff the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five will be held on Thursday, March 20th at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul. The event is open to attending media, Final Five teams, conference-member coaches and administrators and invited guests. The awards program will begin at 4:00 pm CT with the announcements of the 2002-03 league award winners, followed by the announcement of the Top 10 Finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Those two events will then be followed by a catered meal for attending media, the five competing teams, league and member-school administrators and staff, and invited guests. Parking Passes: No parking passes are available for the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five. Media Accommodations: Media members who are planning to attend the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five in St. Paul are encouraged to utilize their respective local teams for securing hotel accommodations for the tournament. The WCHA will utilize both the Radisson Riverfront Hotel Saint Paul and the Saint Paul Hotel as Team Host Hotels during the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final FIve. Radisson Riverfront Hotel Saint Paul (11 E. Kellogg Blvd.). Phone: 651 292-1900 or 800 333-3333 (www.radisson.com) The Saint Paul Hotel (350 Market Street). Phone: 651 292-9292 or 800 292-9292 (www.stpaulhotel.com) There are also several other area hotels that are featuring WCHA Final Five specials. They include: Best Western Drover s Hotel (651 455-3600) (www.bestwestern.com) (Final Five rate from $79 to $89) Country Inn by Carlson - Woodbury (651 739-7300 or 800 456-4000) (www.countryinns.com) (Final Five rate $79) Embassy Suites Saint Paul (651 224-5400 or 800 433-4600) (www.embassystpaul.com) (Final Five rate $159) Hampton Inn Eagan (Mall of America) (651 688-3343 or 800 HAMPTON) (www.hamptoninneagan.com) ($79-89) Holiday Inn Express Bandana Square (651 647-1637 or 800 HOLIDAY) (www.hibandana.com) (Final Five rate $89) Holiday Inn Saint Paul East (651 731-2220) (www.holiday-inn.com/msp-i94east) (Final Five rate $89) Hyatt Regency Minneapolis (612 370-1234 or 800 233-1234) (www.hyatt.com) (Final Five rate $95) The Saint Paul Hotel (350 Market Street). Phone: 651 292-9292 or 800 292-9292 (Final Five rate starting at $159) Additional Accommodations Best Western Kelly Inn-State Capitol (651 227-8711 or 800 528-1234) (www.bestwestern.com) Holiday Inn River Centre (651 225-1515) (www.holidayinnrivercentre.com) Radisson City Center Saint Paul (651 291-8800 or 800 333-3333) (www.radisson.com)
Tentative Schedule of Events 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five (All Times CT) Monday, March 17 WCHA Conference Call with Final Five Teams 10 am Tuesday, March 18 WCHA Media Teleconference with 11 am Commissioner and Final Five Head Coaches WCHA Tournament Director Carol LaBelle Arrives in St. Paul Wednesday, March 19 WCHA Staff Arrives in St. Paul Participating Teams Begin Arriving Team Practice Xcel Energy Center WCHA Final Five Kickoff Party Tom Reid s Hockey City Pub (258 W. Seventh Street) 6-7 pm 6-8 pm
Thursday, March 20 Practices, Etc. - Xcel Energy Center Officials 8:15-9 am 9:15-10:15 am 10:30-11:30 am 11:45 am-12:45 pm 1-2 pm 2:15-3:15 pm 2003 WCHA Awards Ceremony 4-5 pm (inc. Announcement of Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalists) @ Landmark Center, St. Paul Awards Ceremony to be followed by catered meal for attending teams, officials and media Final Five Game #1 Team #4 vs Team #5 7:08 pm Post-Game Press Conference Friday, March 21 Team Practices Xcel Energy Center Semi-Final Game #2 Teams TBA Post-Game Press Conference Semi-Final Game #3 Teams TBA Post-Game Press Conference 9-9:45 am 10-10:45 am 11 am-12 Noon 2:08 pm 7:08 pm Saturday, March 22 Team Practices Xcel Energy Center 8:30-11:30 am Third Place Game 2:08 pm Post-Game Press Conference Broadmoor Trophy Championship Game 7:08 pm On-Ice Awards Presentation and Announcement of All-Tournament Team to Follow Post-Game Press Conference
2003 KELLOGG S WCHA FINAL FIVE March 20, 21, 22 Xcel Energy Center St. Paul, Minnesota MEDIA CREDENTIAL REQUEST FORM Complete this form and return by fax NO later than March 7th to: Kathy Ross, Communications Office, Minnesota Wild, at fax #: 651 293-9574 Name of media outlet: Check type of media outlet: Print: Radio: TV: Name(s) of person(s) to be issued credentials: Phone: Fax: e-mail: What WCHA team do you regularly cover? I will attend and cover (please check one): All five games Only if my local team participates Will you be accompanied by a photographer? Yes No Name of photographer: Do you require a phone line? Yes No (phone line contact: Chris Monicatti (cmonicatti@wild.com cmonicatti@wild.com) at: 651 602-6026) If you have any questions, please contact: Doug Spencer, Associate Commissioner for Public Relations, WCHA at: 608 829-0100 or Kathy Ross, Communications Administrative Assistant, Minnesota Wild, at: 651 602-5736. Working media credentials for the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five March 20, 21 and 22 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. will be issued in the following priority: certified media from the five competing teams, campus media certified by the SID of each participating institution, media who cover the conference and its teams on a regular basis, media from the immediate locale of the tournament, and other accredited media as space permits. Final Five Credential requests will be confirmed by Kathy Ross via fax or telephone. PRINT: Print media granted credentials will be assigned one working space per outlet in the Xcel Energy Center press box. Seat locations will be assigned by the WCHA and Kathy Ross/Minnesota Wild. PHOTO: Photographers granted working credentials will not be assigned seats in the press box. RADIO: Each school s regular radio station (play-by-play) will have the right of first refusal for 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five games. Radio stations wishing to broadcast game(s) live from the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five and who pay the required rights fees of $100.00 per game in advance to the WCHA will be granted two working credentials (maximum of three upon request) in the press box. Specific radio broadcast locations will be assigned by the WCHA and Kathy Ross/Minnesota Wild on March 18th. Checks for broadcast rights fees ($100.00 per game) should be made payable to WCHA and must be forwarded in advance to: Doug Spencer, Associate Commissioner, WCHA, 559 D'Onofrio Drive, Suite 103, Madison, WI 53719. TELEVISION: Exclusive television broadcast rights to the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five are owned by the WCHA and the Minnesota Wild and no other live coverage of the event will be permitted. Please see enclosed release for television schedule. TV stations wishing to acquire feeds from the 2003 Kellogg s WCHA Final Five must contact: Patrick O Connor, Director of Broadcasting, Minnesota Wild at: 651 602-5714 (poconnor@wild.com). TV stations wishing to report only on the tournament and who are granted credentials will be issued one working space per outlet in the press box but no other live coverage of the event will be permitted. MEDIA PHONE LINES: Media needing dedicated phone/radio lines in the Xcel Energy Center press box must contact: Chris Monicatti (cmonicatti@wild.com cmonicatti@wild.com) at: 651 602-6026, in advance. Note: Chris prefers e-mailed requests.