Canlan launches operations in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Burnaby, BC, Feb. 22 /CNW/ - Canlan Ice Sports Corp. (TSX: ICE), providers of the on-ice experience to youth and adults across North America, today announced that its operations in Fort Wayne, Indiana are fully functional, following the opening of Ice Sports Fort Wayne, a newly constructed three-pad, 128,000 square foot sports and entertainment facility.

As announced previously, Canlan is leasing and operating Ice Sports Fort Wayne for a period of up to 20 years. Canlan also has an option to purchase the facility during the first seven years of the lease. As operators of Ice Sports Fort Wayne, Canlan offers multiple hockey and skating programs, including the Canlan Skating Academy, Hockey Academy and the Adult Safe Hockey League, North America's most successful adult recreational hockey program. Canlan will also be incorporating its signature brand, The Thirsty Penguin Grill House, in the facility's 200-seat full-service restaurant.

In addition to Ice Sports Fort Wayne, Canlan is also managing the city-owned facility in Fort Wayne. The building, which operates under the name McMillen Ice Arena, will be managed by Canlan for a period of up to 10 years.

"We are very encouraged by the local community's support for our efforts to establish thriving ice sports facilities in Indiana," said Joey St-Aubin, President and CEO of Canlan Ice Sports. "We look forward to introducing our programs, such as Canlan Classic Tournaments and the Adult Safe Hockey League, to the Mid-West, and continuing to grow the number of registered players."

Fort Wayne is centrally located between Indianapolis, Chicago and Detroit, enabling Canlan to execute its growth strategy in the U.S.

"Our new, state-of-the-art facility is not only a hub for our future expansion, it will also draw teams and skaters from three key market areas to experience firsthand why our motto is, 'Where the Experience is Everything," Mr. St-Aubin also said.

About Canlan

Canlan Ice Sports Corp is the North American leader in the development, operations and ownership of multi-purpose recreation and entertainment facilities. We are the largest private sector owner and operator of recreational ice sports facilities in North America and currently own and/or manage 22 facilities in Canada and the United States with 65 surfaces including ice rinks and indoor soccer fields.

Canlan Ice Sports offers an impressive number of branded programs, which include: Youth 3 on 3, Canlan Classic Tournaments, Hockey Academy, Skating Academy, Canlan Sports Camps and much more. One of the premier brands in our portfolio of programs is the Adult Safe-Hockey League, the world's largest adult recreational hockey league, with over 63,000 members.

In addition to full size NHL rinks, most of our facilities provide patrons with well appointed sports bars and restaurants overlooking the ice for a relaxed viewing experience and well-stocked sports stores to meet their equipment and sports clothing needs. From facility design and development to operation and programming, Canlan Ice Sports, Where the Experience is Everything.

Canlan Ice Sports Corp. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ICE."

Caution concerning forward-looking statements

This document contains forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words like "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "indicates" or similar expressions. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors set forth in reports and other documents filed by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time.

For further information: Canlan Ice Sports Corp., Michael F. Gellard, Senior Vice President & CFO, [phone] ext. 108; The Equicom Group, Joe Racanelli, [phone] ext. 243, [email protected]