March 6, 2003

Dayton, Ohio - The Dayton Hockey Foundation today announced that the Ohio State Buckeyes and University of Denver Pioneers will join the Miami University RedHawks in the 2003 Lefty McFadden College Hockey Invitational scheduled for October 3rd and 4th at Wright State University's Ervin J. Nutter Center.

The tournament is named for Dayton area sports and civic figure Ed 'Lefty' McFadden. McFadden served as general manager of the former Dayton Gems hockey club, and is regarded as the 'Father of Dayton Hockey'.

This is the second Lefty McFadden Invitational. The inaugural 'Lefty' took place on October 4 and 5, 2002 at the Nutter Center, with Miami University, Bowling Green State University, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Niagara University participating. Once again-as in 2002-Miami University will serve as host team of the Lefty McFadden Invitational. The RedHawks came away as champions of the inaugural 'Lefty' by virtue of a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Bowling Green State Falcons in the tournament finals. Under the direction of head coach Enrico Blasi, the RedHawks have had a very successful season thus far and should win over 20 games.

At 22-10-3, the Ohio State Buckeyes are enjoying their best season since the 1997-98 campaign when they made an appearance in the NCAA hockey 'Frozen Four'. That season, the Buckeyes finished with a 27-13-2 record. This year, the Buckeyes have been ranked in the NCAA Men Division I Top 15 most of the season, climbing to as high as number five in the polls. The Buckeyes compete in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) with the Miami RedHawks.

The University of Denver Pioneers (currently 22-10-6) are a perennial power in the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) and college hockey. Led by former Miami RedHawk head coach George Gwozdecky, the Pioneers compiled an impressive 32-8-1 record during the 2001-02 season. Denver has made five NCAA tournament appearances in the past eight years and won the NCAA men's hockey championship in both 1968 and 1969. Like Ohio State, Denver has been ranked in the NCAA Men's Hockey Top 15 most of this season.

The fourth team for this year's 'Lefty' is yet to be determined.

"This is really big-time college hockey", says Bob Brogan, who is a tournament co-chair along with Roger Baldwin and Chuck Gabringer. "With Miami, Ohio State, and Denver, we have three of the very best teams in college hockey coming to Dayton. Fans coming to the 'Lefty' may very well be watching some kids that will end up in the National Hockey League."

In addition, the Dayton Hockey Foundation announced that not only will the Nutter Center host the Lefty McFadden Invitational, but it has also signed on as an event partner-and will assist the Dayton Hockey Foundation in event operations and marketing.

"We believe this is a great event for both the Nutter Center and the community," says John Siehl, General Manager of the Nutter Center. "We want to help in anyway we can to ensure the 'Lefty' is successful for many years to come."

Tickets for the 2003 Lefty McFadden Invitational will go on sale July 1. For more information, contact the Dayton Hockey Foundation at 285-0285 or Chuck Gabringer at 435-7616. The Dayton Hockey Foundation is non-profit organization dedicated to performing philanthropic acts through hockey-related activities.