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The climax in the selection and appointment of exclusive World Championship Ambassadors is logically set by an ice hockey star and it is no one less than the probably greatest player of all times. Wayne Gretzky gave his promise to Franz Reindl, General Secretary of the World Championship, who had the honour of playing against "The Great One" several times during his career.

"This is fantastic", responded Franz Reindl with delight and added: "With Erich Kühnhackl, Germany's ice hockey player of the century, Vladislav Tretiak, considered to be the greatest goalie of all times and now Wayne Gretzky, ice hockey couldn't be represented more prominent in our squad of ambassadors. This was our objective and emphasizes the significance of our World Championship also on international level."

Gretzky, 49 years of age today, whose famous Number 99 has never been given out again in the NHL, has won almost everything a player could win during his career, except for the Olympics and IIHF World Championships. He is practically leading all statistics of importance in the NHL. Among others he scored 894 goals, delivered1,963 assists and thus achieved 2,857 scorer points.


Mark Messier, former team-mate of Wayne Gretzky at the Edmonton Oilers und now the General Manager of Team Canada for the 2010 IIHF World Championship, has announced a first group of 15 players, who shall represent Canada at the games in Mannheim. Among them is 19 year old John Tavares, Center of the New York Islanders, who some experts already see in the footsteps of Sidney Crosby. Fans in Mannheim may also look forward to Steve Stamkos from Tampa Bay Lightning, who finished the regular NHL-Saison with 51 goals, thus sharing the goal scoring crown with Sidney Crosby.

The games of Olympic Champion Team Canada belong to the most requested at the venue of Mannheim, but currently Tickets are still available for all Canada games under phone +49 621 18 19 0 333 oder at www.iihfworlds2010.com.