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TORONTO (October 13, 2009) “ The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) announced today that the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund will celebrate its 10th anniversary this November by embarking on a "10 countries in 10 days" world tour, donating $125,000 worth of hockey equipment to grassroots hockey programs along the way.

NHLPA Goals & Dreams Ambassadors are embarking on an ambitious, yet extremely meaningful journey to visit "10 countries in 10 days", beginning in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden on November 13th and making stops in Finland, Russia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia, Germany, the United States, and concluding in Toronto, Canada on November 22nd.

"This initiative is all about giving back, which is why we are continuing to donate even more equipment to kids who need our help during this one-of-a-kind tour," said NHLPA Goals & Dreams Ambassador and former NHL player Rob Zamuner. "NHLPA members are very proud of the NHLPA Goals & Dreams program, now in its 10th year. We are looking forward to spreading the word so more children can pick up a stick and play the great game of hockey."

Zamuner, along with fellow NHLPA Goals & Dreams Ambassador and former NHL player P.J. Stock, will join NHLPA Goals & Dreams Chairman, Devin Smith and Program Manager, Matt Langen for the full "10 countries in 10 days" world tour.

During the world tour, NHLPA Goals & Dreams will donate 25 sets of brand-new hockey equipment to a local grassroots hockey program in each country that is visited, for a total of 250 complete sets, worth approximately $125,000. In most locations, a retired NHL player from each of the 10 destination countries will also participate in the festivities taking place in his native country, including: Pavel Bure, Arturs Irbe, Jyrki Lumme, Jaroslav Modry, Markus Naslund, Martin Rucinsky, Martin Straka, Esa Tikkanen and more.

"I'm thrilled that NHLPA Goals & Dreams is kicking off the world tour in Ornskoldsvik," says former NHL All-Star Markus Naslund, who has been actively involved in NHLPA Goals & Dreams for several years and will also be joining the tour for stops in Helsinki and Moscow, in addition to the first stop in his hometown in Sweden. "This tour is a great example of how NHLPA Goals & Dreams helps develop grassroots hockey programs in my home country of Sweden, and all around the world."

"It's an honour to represent CBC's Hockey Night in Canada and NHLPA Goals & Dreams on this world tour," said P.J. Stock, studio analyst, CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. "This program is truly impressive, and our unique broadcast will showcase the generosity that NHL players have exhibited for the past decade."

CBC's Hockey Night in Canada is sending a film crew to document the entire trip and produce a one-hour television special, to be aired in December, which will capture the key elements and spirit of the tour.

"CBC's Hockey Night in Canada supports the greatest athletes in the world and their efforts to give back to the game," said Sherali Najak, executive producer, CBC's Hockey Night in Canada. "It's important that people know how much these players care about community and work to grow the sport. We are looking forward to capturing this amazing race of 10 countries in 10 days."

After travelling a total distance of 19,603 kilometers, the tour will conclude with a celebration at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Sunday, November 22nd, the site where NHLPA Goals & Dreams was first launched 10 years ago. NHL Alumni, players from the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, and children who are receiving equipment from their hockey heroes will attend the wrap-up event.

About NHLPA Goals & Dreams:
In 1999, the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) launched the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 10 years, more than 350 former and current NHLPA members have been personally involved in helping facilitate NHLPA Goals & Dreams donations in either their hometown or their NHL playing cities. The players' program has donated full sets of hockey equipment to more than 13,000 economically disadvantaged children and assisted with upgrades and the building of hundreds of arenas, in 21 countries world-wide. Most donated hockey equipment is re-used by the recipients, which has furthered the cause and provided more than 40,000 children with the opportunity to play the great sport of hockey. The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund is funded solely by the members of the NHLPA and is the largest grassroots hockey program in the world.

For more details on the "10 countries in 10 days" world tour, log-on to www.nhlpa.com/10in10

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