The following is being distributed at the request of School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador:

School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador sponsors boys and girls ball hockey provincial championships this weekend

School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador will sponsor three provincial tournaments this coming weekend. Two boys ball hockey (3A and 4A) and one girls ball hockey tournaments, involving 20 teams will take place.

The Girls Ball Hockey Provincial Championships will take place in Stephenville, hosted by Stephenville High School. Six teams will compete in a round robin format to determine the winning team. Teams vying for the championship banner include the host Stephenville High, Fogo Island Central High, Harriot Curtis Collegiate (St. Anthony), Ascension Collegiate (Bay Roberts), St. Joseph�s Academy (Lamaline) and Pasadena Academy. Games get underway 10 a.m. Friday and continue throughout Friday. Games resume 10 a.m. Saturday. The top two teams advance to the championship game at 1 p.m.

Fatima Academy in St. Brides is the host school for the Boys 3A Ball Hockey championships. Eight teams will compete in a two division format to determine the semi-final match ups. In Division A, action will be between Fatima Academy, Mobile High School, Mushuau Innu School (Natuashish) and St. Joseph�s Academy (Lamaline). Facing off in Division B will be Burgeo Academy, Stella Maris Academy (Trepassey), King Academy (Harbour Breton) and D.C. Young School (Port Hope Simpson).

The opening ceremonies will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday. Games get underway at 3 p.m. on Thursday and continue throughout Friday. The top teams from each division advance to the Saturday semi-finals 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.

The 4A Boys Ball Hockey is hosted by Discovery Collegiate in Bonavista. Division 1 will consist of Ascension Collegiate (Bay Roberts), Gonzaga High (St. John�s), Pasadena Academy and New World Island Academy (Pilley�s Island). Division 2 will see Harriot Curtis Collegiate (St. Anthony), O�Donel High (Mount Pearl), Discovery Collegiate (Bonavista) and Stephenville High. Round robin games will begin 10:30 Friday morning and will conclude Saturday morning. The top four teams advance to the semi-finals scheduled for 12 and 12:45. The championship game will go ahead at 2:30.

In its continuing effort to emphasize sportsmanship, School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador, is sponsoring the Sportsmanship First Program. In addition to the Team Sportsmanship Banner, each team will nominate an individual player to receive an individual sportsmanship medal.

The top teams will be rewarded with gold and silver medals, while the winner of the championship game will also receive the coveted championship banner.

Media contact: Karen Richard, (709) 729-2795

Convenors:

2006 05 10                        4:05 p.m.