MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota [August 8, 2004] – The Minnesota Stars beat the Toronto Rock 4-1 to win the 2004 PowerHockey™ Cup tournament, being held on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis. After a blistering first period of action where neither team could score, the Stars broke the game open on goals by Chris Kram, Wayne Baier, and Luke Pedersen to make it 3-0 Stars after two periods. The Stars opened the third period on a power-play after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Rock, and Kram capitalized on the opportunity with his second goal of the game to make it 4-0. Michelle Duboulay (the 2001 PowerHockey™ World Cup Championship Game MVP) got Toronto on the scoreboard with a goal midway through the third period. The Minnesota Stars Chris Kram received the Phil Adams Memorial Trophy for being voted Tournament MVP. Minnesota Stars goaltender Steve Onsum received the Lee Nuutinen Memorial Trophy for being voted Championship Game MVP.
The Minnesota Saints beat the Carolina Fury 5-2 for 3 rd Place. Josh Twite had three goals and Sharon Spring had two goals and an assist for the Saints. Lance Fallon scored the Fury’s two goals in the third period. Sarah Heinsch got the win in goal for the Saints.
The Robbinsdale Lions Club was acknowledged before the game for its part in sponsoring the 2004 PowerHockey™ Cup tournament. Cable 12 (NW suburbs) televised the 3 rd Place and Championship Game with full play-by-play coverage (tape-delay). Tom Witschen, broadcaster for University of Minnesota athletics, provided play-by-play, along with Kevin Falness and Karyn Bye (both representing the NHL’s Minnesota Wild). The Minnesota Wild’s organist, Palmer Harbison entertained everyone with stadium hockey tunes.
The Minnesota-based U.S. Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association (U.S. EWHA), a non-profit organization and member of Disabled Sports USA, hosted the event. The 2004 PowerHockey™ Cup also marked the first official event of the North American PowerHockey™ Association (NAPHA), a joint venture of the U.S. EWHA and Canadian Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association (CEWHA). The purpose of NAPHA is to develop a strong working relationship between all developed power wheelchair hockey programs throughout North America and abroad. NAPHA members will work together to form the future for PowerHockey™ tournaments.
For more information about the U.S. EWHA visit the website: www.powerhockey.com. To obtain a quote from a U.S. EWHA representative, call (763) 535-4736.
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Contact:
U.S. ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR
HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
7216 39TH AVE. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55427
Tel: 763.535.4736
Fax: 208.279.1368
Web Site: www.powerhockey.com
Email: info@powerhockey.com