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发帖数: 970 | 1 http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/
By Rob Rossi, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Last updated: 12:06 pm
The NHL Entry Draft is returning to Pittsburgh, with a formal announcement
set for Thursday afternoon at Consol Energy Center.
The draft will be held June 22-23 at Consol Energy Center, with Round 1 on a
Friday night and the final rounds on Saturday afternoon.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will speak about the draft Thursday afternoon
prior to the Penguins` home game against the New York Islanders.
The NHL and the Penguins have declined comment, though the 2012 draft had
long been believed to be set for the city. Tampa was also a strong contender
to host the event.
Pittsburgh most recently played host to the NHL draft in 1997.
As they did with the 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field, the Penguins plan
to create a carnival-like atmosphere around the draft. The Classic featured
a second outdoor rink on which youth games were played.
Details of the Penguins` plans for events surrounding the draft are not yet
known.
Unlike the Classic, the NHL draft will bring a gathering of the hockey world
to the region. All of the league`s 30 teams will be represented, the
majority traveling with large contingents of hockey operations staffs.
Also, the Penguins can make it more interesting by becoming the rare team to
own possession of the Stanley Cup while playing host to the draft. The Cup
Final is slated to wrap in mid-June, and the Penguins are considered among
the top contenders to appear in the league`s championship series. |
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