Historic 2010 Olympic Games gold medal winning puck donated by IIHF/VANOC to
Hockey Hall of Fame; overtime pucks added to gold medal game pucks on sale at
www.vancouver2010.com/auction

VANCOUVER, March 16 /CNW/ - The permanent home of perhaps the most famous six ounces of hard rubber in hockey history - the puck with which Canada's Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal on Team USA during the overtime period of the Olympic gold medal game - will go to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and four pucks used in the same overtime period are now available for purchase at www.vancouver2010.com/auction

International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel and Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) CEO John Furlong jointly made the announcement of the donation of the gold medal winning puck to the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF). The famous puck has been delivered by the IIHF to the HHOF, where it will be put onto public display as soon as possible.

VANOC also confirmed that four pucks used in the overtime period and collected for VANOC by on-ice officials have been added to the selection of sport memorabilia now available through public auction at vancouver2010.com/auction.

All of the pucks feature the Olympic rings in white and Vancouver 2010's distinctive blue and green Look of the Games.

Gold medal game winning puck:

The game winning puck was retrieved through joint efforts by the IIHF, VANOC and the HHOF to locate it following the game. In the celebrations and tumult of media attention and post-game activities, various officials who had possession of the puck could not immediately identify the appropriate person to hand it off to and so safeguarded it until it could be handed over directly to the IIHF last week. Photos of the gold medal game winning puck are available with this news release and at http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/media-centre/image-gallery/event-photos/event-photos_144050sl.html

"I am happy to see that the puck is going to the hockey hall of fame," said Sidney Crosby. "I feel very lucky to have been part of that team and that game as well and I am glad hockey fans will get the chance to share the moment by seeing things like the overtime winning puck up close."

"What an incredible hockey tournament in Vancouver capped off with a gold medal game that will never be forgotten," said René Fasel. "The IIHF is proud to help ensure that this valuable piece of hockey history will hold an honoured place for all to see it and to remember where they were and what they felt at the exact moment the goal was scored."

"The moment of the winning goal from the men's gold medal game at the Vancouver 2010 Games is burned into the memory of Canadians - and all hockey fans - forever," said John Furlong. "This puck and the teams that fought hard to score with it in overtime represent some of the most exciting moments of the 2010 Games and we're delighted to donate it to the Hockey Hall of Fame so that everyone can enjoy it for years to come."

"The gold medal winning puck is a treasure that will attract so many hockey fans to the Hall and we're extremely happy that it's on its way here," said Phil Pritchard," Curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame. "Thanks to the IIHF and to VANOC for making this happen and we look forward to getting the puck and making arrangements for it to take its rightful place with the other memorabilia that represent great moments in hockey history."

Gold medal game warm up, regulation time and overtime pucks at www.vancouver2010.com/auction:

VANOC put into place a process whereby at any stoppage of play in the gold medal hockey game linesmen swapped out the puck in play for a new one and the game pucks were collected and marked for the period in which they were played. Pucks collected in the game warm up and first three periods of the gold medal game have already sold at auction for between $3500 - $5900 CDN, with warm up pucks selling for up to $700 CDN. The four pucks used during the overtime period of the gold medal game have been added to the online auction at vancouver2010.com/auctions and are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity

"There's been great interest to date in the official sport memorabilia auction such as hockey pucks, jerseys and podia. The bidding for gold medal game overtime pucks - and another chance to own a piece of Olympic history -- is likely to be fierce," said Dennis Kim, VANOC's Director of Licensing and Merchandising. The Vancouver 2010 auction is the only source for official 2010 Winter Games memorabilia and for the first time in the history of the Games, some of the most coveted items used during competition including medal podia, medal trays, pucks, ski gates, game-worn jerseys and more are available for purchase.

About the IIHF:

The IIHF, the governing body of international ice hockey and inline hockey, features 68 member associations, each of which is the national governing body of the sport in its nation. Besides controlling the international rulebook, processing international player transfers, and dictating officiating guidelines, the IIHF runs numerous development programs designed to bring hockey to a broader population. The IIHF also presides over ice hockey in the Olympic Games and over the IIHF World Championships at all levels, men, women, juniors under-20, juniors under-18 and women under-18. Each season, the IIHF in collaboration with its local organizing committees, runs around 25 different World Championships in the five different categories. Visit www.iihf.com

About the HHOF:

The Hockey Hall of Fame was founded in 1943 to establish a memorial to those who have developed Canada's great winter sport -- ice hockey. Incorporated in 1983, Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum ("HHFM") exists in order to honour and preserve the history of the game of ice hockey, and in particular, those who have made outstanding contributions and achievements in the development of the game. The HHFM collects, preserves, researches, exhibits and promotes all objects, images and histories which are determined to be significant to the story of ice hockey in Canada, and throughout the world. Visit www.hhof.com

About VANOC:

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games were staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler are hosting the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Media Contact: VANOC Media Relations, Tel: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]