CHICAGO, IL - EHK Sports Enterprises is proud to announce that the 2004 edition of the Challenge Cup, the most scouted midget AAA tournament in the United States, is set for Nov 24-28 in Dallas, TX. EHK Sports has recently entered into an agreement with the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League to promote and sponsor the tournament. This step has brought the Challenge Cup to the forefront of the elite tournaments. For those of you who are not familiar with EHK Sports events, they are the most scouted in the nation. Last season the Challenge Cup had 25 Div I schools and 60 Junior teams scouting the event, as well as 6 NHL teams. EHK Sports prides itself in making our events the absolute best around. The scouts are treated like royalty when at our events, as well as the players whose every need is met.

 

The 2004 Challenge Cup will be even better as we have many improvements lined up.

 

#1 - The tournament will take place at the Frisco Dr. Pepper StarCenter, home of the Dallas Stars NHL training facility and the Texas Tornado of the NAHL. The facility is less than a year old and is one of the finest examples of a mid level arena. The main rink holds 3,500 seated and 4,100 total.  With another 10 skyboxes and 2 huge party rooms, it is the perfect place for a championship game. The second rink holds 500 and has a huge indoor viewing area.

 

#2 - EHK Sports has been able to secure excellent room rates at two of the finest hotels in Dallas. First, the Westin Stonebriar Resort will serve as the main host hotel. The Westin is a four star hotel that boasts "heavenly" beds in every room. With a regular rate of $209, we were able to negotiate $79 a night. The second host hotel in the Marriott at Legacy Center. The Marriott is another four star hotel who also lowered their normal rate by more than half for EHK Sports to $79 a night as well. Both hotels are some of the finest examples you will find anywhere. We think you will agree these aren't the hotels most of you are used to when going to a hockey tournament, but at the same price you would pay for lesser hotels. This is just another example of the kind of service you receive with EHK Sports.

 

#3 - The Westin Stonebriar is a golf resort with a PGA rated course. Golf may not be something you think about at the end of November - especially in Chicago or Detroit, but in Dallas you can grab a round anytime you want, and maybe even get a tan while you're at it. EHK Sports has worked out discounted rounds for all tournament participants, parents, scouts, and coaches.

 

#4 - Corporate sponsors are something you never see with other tournaments. EHK Sports with the help of the Dallas Stars are able to gain sponsors such as Dell, Hewlett Packard and Ford, just to name a few. Each sponsor will support and promote the tournament and its participants in a variety of ways, from possible scholarships to gift give aways. One raffle we are having is a give away of a play system for the backyard worth $3,500. With the purchase of a ticket one lucky person will have a lasting play area for their child for years to come.

 

#5 - Along the corporate sponsorship lines, EHK Sports has entered into an agreement with Easton. Easton is providing the Challenge Cup with merchandise for give away to MVP's of each game. Merchandise will include but is not limited to t-shirts, sticks, even skates. last year every player was given a gift from EHK Sports, this year each player will get the same and more.

 

#6 - Atmosphere makes a huge difference when playing in a elite tournament. EHK Sports has put in place a ticket selling system in Dallas, so that every game to packed a full of excitement. If everything goes as planned the final game should be full with 4,100 screaming fans. Ticket prices will be $25 for the weekend or $10 a day. We have people selling tickets currently.

 

#7 - Travel costs are always first on the minds of managers when picking tournaments and we are aware of that. EHK Sports has secured a 10% discount with American Airlines to Dallas from anywhere in the U.S. (Note: It costs almost $450-500 or more to get to the Mac's Tournament in Canada from Chicago).

#8 - We are currently working to arrange for some sort of transportation for each team while in town to help get from place to place.

 

#9 - Scouts are why you come to our tournaments and scouts is what you will get. EHK Sports has been working with many scouts this summer to see what their concerns might be if we moved to Dallas.  So far they have had none. All were excited about the chance to go to a much warmer climate and see great hockey as well as play a round of golf. Scouts know how well they are treated at our events and they know that will not change. We expect even more scouts then in years past.

 

Update: Scouts will be present from such schools as: Denver, Colorado College, Brown, Miami of Ohio, Michigan Tech, Massachuestts and New Hampshire just to name a few.  As of Aug 2nd we have had commitments from over 30 Div I schools and more than 40 Junior A teams to scout the event in its entirety!

 

#10 - Competition is also a key to a tournaments success. We have always had the most competitive tournaments with teams from all over the United States, not just the same old teams you play all the time. EHK Sports has already had commitments from top teams like the LA Stars, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Jr. Blues, Little Caesars, Victory Honda, Pikes Peak and Team Colorado, to name a few. 20 teams will be able to compete in the event this season. We are also going after some top teams in Canada to come down and compete.

 

#11 - We know it's a holiday and everybody wants Thanksgiving dinner. EHK Sports is currently working to possibly find a way so that every team can have a catered dinner if they want, either at the Westin or in one of the party rooms at the rink. Don't worry we will taste test to find the best caterer!

 

We hope this has spelled out all that is the 2004 Challenge Cup. Many people have spent countless hours already setting up this event and will continue to do so that it stays the most competitive, scouted and top midget AAA tournament in the United States.

 

If you have any questions please feel free to call EHK Sports at 847-549-0833 or email me at any time.