By Western Hockey League

CALGARY, Alta. – Ron Robison, Commissioner of the Western Hockey League today announced that Kamloops Blazers’ General Manager and Edmonton native Dean Clark will be the General Manager and Head Coach of Team Alberta and Saskatoon Blades’ General Manager and Head Coach and North Battleford native Lorne Molleken will be the General Manager and Head Coach of Team Saskatchewan for the upcoming 2005 Centennial Hockey Challenge in Lloydminster, Alberta on Thursday, April 14 at the Lloydminster Civic Centre. Game time is 7:00pm MT.

The game will be Live on CBC Television in Alberta and Saskatchewan with Mark Connolly calling the action and former Medicine Hat Tiger Kelly Hrudey as colour commentator.

Dean Clark joined the Kamloops Blazers in the summer of 2003 in the role of Head Coach after two seasons behind the bench of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Clark then assumed the dual role of Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations in January of 2004, before being named the club’s General Manager in November of 2004.

As Blazer Head Coach, he posted his 300th career WHL victory, having recorded wins over 9 seasons with the Blazers, Wheat Kings, and the Calgary Hitmen. During his 6 years with Calgary, Clark led the Hitmen to the 1999 WHL Championship and an appearance in the Memorial Cup final against Ottawa. Clark played in the WHL with the Blazers for three seasons from 1982-1985.

In just his first season with the Saskatoon Blades, Lorne Molleken led the team to a 59-point improvement over last season which is second all-time in WHL history, posting 89 points in the 2004-05 season and earning the WHL Eastern Conference Nominee for WHL Coach of the Year. Molleken was named WHL Coach of Year in 1994.

Molleken was a goaltender in the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos and now defunct Winnipeg Club.

2004 Canadian Idol finalist and Saskatoon native Theresa Sokyrka will sing the National Anthem.

In addition to the Centennial Hockey Challenge being aired on television, CBC will cover the centennial celebrations in Lloydminster on April 14 extensively with on-site radio and television broadcasts. CBC Radio will carry morning, noon and afternoon shows direct from Lloydminster as well as live play-by-play radio coverage of the game throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta. CBC Television’s program CBC News: Canada Now will broadcast live from the Centennial Arena from 6:00-7:00pm to both Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Presenting partners of the event include the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the Western Hockey League (WHL) and the Saskatchewan and Alberta Centennial Committees. Ron MacLean with CBC Television will emcee and host the Centennial Hockey Challenge.

The event will feature many of the finest major junior hockey players in the WHL who are residents of each province and have been eliminated from the WHL Playoffs.

The player rosters will be announced following the conclusion of the first round of the WHL Playoffs.

The event has been sanctioned by both the Saskatchewan Hockey Association and Hockey Alberta.

Proceeds from the event will be directed in support of the WHL Education Fund, the Hockey Alberta Foundation and the Saskatchewan Hockey Association Legacy Fund.