Click here to enter the Samsung Seeks Mobile Explores Contest

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in Wireless Communications Equipment, is searching for people to share their WOW moments during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The company has launched the Samsung Mobile Explorers contest where the eventual winners will experience the Games in a unique and exciting way.

Through the online contest, Samsung will be selecting five teams of two that will travel to Vancouver and share their Olympic experiences through regular postings to a Samsung Olympic-website as well as their personal blogs and social media accounts. The contest is part of Samsung’s overarching Vancouver 2010 campaign which includes Samsung’s Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), a mobile communications platform specifically developed to keep Olympic officials, athletes, media and even fans connected and informed during the Olympic Games.

“This once-in-a-lifetime experience will put our Samsung Mobile Explorer teams front-and-center on the world’s biggest stage,” said Benjamin Lee, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics Canada. “This prize will allow the eventual winners to use Samsung mobile technology, including the Samsung Omnia II Olympic hero phone, to interact and share their personal WOW moments.”

Canadians interested in learning more about the Samsung Mobile Explorers and how to enter can visit the Samsung Vancouver 2010 website – www.samsung.com/vancouver2010. Video entries should demonstrate your team’s experience and interest with blogs and social networking, ability to seek-out and generate buzz and general excitement about Canada’s hosting of the 2010 Games.

During the contest period, Canadians will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite eligible entries and 10 semi-finalist teams will be determined based on the number of votes received. A panel of Samsung judges will then score the top 10 entries based on each team’s ability to creatively demonstrate their social networking capabilities. The five teams to receive the highest total score will become Canada’s Samsung Mobile Explorers.

“Along with giving 10 Canadians a unique Olympic experience, we are hoping our Mobile Explorers will be able to experience the global community that the Games creates and to expand  their social networks by interacting with other Samsung Mobile Explorers from the U.S., South Korea, China and Russia,” said Lee. “This contest is just the latest example of Samsung’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Olympic movement and making the Games accessible to everyone.”

The 10 Canadian Samsung Mobile Explorers will be joined by 47 explorers from the U.S., Russia, China and South Korea. In order to promote the Samsung Mobile Explorers program, two, 30-second viral videos have been posted to major social networks. The basic concept for the viral videos is based on humour and to demonstrate how Samsung Mobile Explorers might capture their own “WOW” moments. 
“The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are certain to offer plenty of WOW moments, both from the competitions and from the cultural experiences offered around the Games. Our Samsung Mobile Explorers will capture and share their adventures with people around the world,” said Gyehyun Kwon, Vice President and Head of Worldwide Sports Marketing, Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd. “This program is another great opportunity for Samsung to enhance our overall Olympic campaign and deliver a truly unique perspective from Vancouver.”

Starting in Athens 2004 Olympic Games to Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Samsung has been providing its wireless technology for seamless communication among Olympic VIPs, delegates, and organizing staff.  For the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Samsung will continue to provide the latest and best in Olympic Games wireless communications with improved accessibility and, for the first time, will be launching its first Public WOW Application providing users with real-time Games updates and results – making Olympic Games information available anywhere, anytime.

The Canadian Samsung Mobile Explorers will receive round-trip, economy-class airfare to and from Vancouver, accommodation for 20 nights, meals and two Samsung Omnia II mobile phones. The contest is open to Canadian residents that have reached the age of majority in their province of residence. Entries must be received by December 6, 2009.

For more information regarding the Samsung Mobile Explorers program, please visit www.samsung.com/vancouver2010.

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About Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.

Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. (SECA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning digital consumer electronics, information systems, telecommunications and home appliance products. SECA upholds Samsung’s mission to provide consumers with innovative digital convergence products that possess exceptional technology, quality, features, performance and value.

Samsung has been a global TOP sponsor of the Olympic Games since 1998 and has been a presenting sponsor of the Olympic Torch Relay from 2004 to 2008.  Also through Samsung’s Four Seasons of Hope charity, Samsung helps athletes and celebrities raise funds for their respective charities, including the Wayne Gretzky Foundation in Canada.  Samsung is also a proud sponsor of Hockey Canada and the Toronto Football Club.

For customer service inquiries, please call 1-800-SAMSUNG (1-800-726-7864), and for more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Click here to enter the Samsung Seeks Mobile Explores Contest

When Wayne Gretzky was a child, his grandfather — a Russian immigrant — used to make wine at home in Ontario. “He grew his own grapes, everything,” said Gretzky, who remembers trying it when he was younger. Full Story

Fantasy Camp VIII will be held from March 24 – 29, 2010 at the Bellagio Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Reserve your spot now, space is limited.  Register Now

Fifteen lucky young Canadians converged in Calgary today to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime hockey clinic with hockey legends Wayne Gretzky and Hayley Wickenheiser.

The Samsung Hockey Camp for Kids kicked off with breakfast and a motivational speech from Wickenheiser, captain of Canada’s Women’s team and two-time Olympic gold medalist.  Following breakfast, the day included five on-ice skills clinics and a scrimmage match with Gretzky and Wickenheiser, and off ice training with Hockey Canada Trainers.  Winners were also treated to one-on-one meet-and-greet sessions and had their photos taken with the hockey stars.

“At Samsung, we understand that passion for hockey begins at a very young age and we were overjoyed to provide this unique experience to 15 aspiring young hockey stars,” said Benjamin Lee, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics Canada.  “The number of entries we received was overwhelming, and while there were many compelling submissions, we feel that the group today were deserving boys and girls that truly exemplify the meaning of sportsmanship, both on and off the ice.”

“I am thrilled to be a part of Team Samsung and to share my passion for hockey with people from across the country,” said Hayley Wickenheiser.  “As an aspiring young athlete, I was extremely fortunate to be surrounded by people who provided the much-needed support and encouragement to get me where I am today.  It was a real honour to work with some of Canada’s youngest hockey enthusiasts, and I can only hope that my participation today helps inspire these kids to pursue their hopes and dreams.”

A panel of judges from Samsung and Hockey Canada selected the winning entries from hundreds of online submissions on the Samsung Hockey Camp for Kids website.  Earlier this fall, parents and guardians were invited to nominate their child (ages seven to 14) and, in 300 words or less, explain how he or she best exemplifies Samsung’s key hockey values – fair play, team work and skills improvement.  The winners and one parent/guardian received roundtrip airfare and accommodation in Calgary for the duration of their stay.

Winners were selected from coast-to-coast and include:

• Myah Bowal, Age 9, Terrace, BC
• Tyler Egglestone, Age 10, Whitehorse, YT
• Grady Franklin, Age 8, Deloraine, MB
• Abbey Franklin, Age 10, Deloraine, MB
• Cameron Harvey, Age 10, North Saanich, BC
• Matthew Hood, Age 10, Fredericton, NB
• Louis Larochelle, Age 10, Montreal, QC
• Nathan Ledbury-Swales, Age 11, Barrie, ON
• Cole McEachern, Age 13, Barrie, ON
• Lauren Pillisch, Age 12, Markdale, ON
• Lauren Pye, Age 7, Auburn, NS
• Rock Ruschowski, Age 12, Calgary, AB
• Catherine Turner, Age 13, Airdrie, AB
• Myriam Wright, Age 10, St-Jacques, NB
• Marissa Zuchetto, Age 10, Mississauga, ON

Along with the contest, the Samsung Hockey Camp for Kids website collected funds for Hockey Canada’s “Dream Come True” community initiative – a program that funds hockey fees and equipment purchases for underprivileged children across Canada.  Samsung matched every dollar donated and a total of $10,000.00 was raised.

The Samsung Hockey Camp for Kids is part of the company’s Team Samsung campaign.  Through the campaign, Samsung has partnered with an all-star line-up of hockey’s greatest players, including Wayne Gretzky, Hayley Wickenheiser and Jarome Iginla, to help make hockey more accessible to kids and to build excitement for the sport as the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games approach.

Mick Kern appears courtesy of Live From Wayne Gretzky’s

Earlier today, I saw a list of National Hockey League players who played a thousand or more regular season games in the league.

How many players have had the opportunity to suit up for an NHL team since the league formed in 1917?  Five thousand?  Can’t be that many, seeing that for twenty-five years, there were only six teams in the circuit.  Before 1942, when there were more teams in the league, how big were the rosters?

Whatever that number may be, as of Friday, November 13^th, 2009, from what I could see, only 238 players have played at least 1000 regular-season NHL games.  One might expect the giants of the game to be on that list, after all, you’d have to be pretty good to last that long in the world’s premier hockey league.  Or would you?  Maybe you just have to be good enough to stick around, just good enough to fill out the fourth line.

Gordie Howe leads the list with 1767 games under his belt during a 26-year NHL career, and that doesn’t take into account his years in the World Hockey Association.  Mark Messier follows Mr. Hockey, falling 11 games short of his total.  Ron Francis gets the bronze medal with 1731 games played, Chris Chelios has participated in 1644 games in the NHL…and possibly counting…and Dave Andreychuk sits in fifth spot with 1639.

The first three are Hall-of-Famers, Chelios will be one day if he ever decides to retire, and a good case can be made for Andreychuk to be there too.

Scanning down the list, most of the players listed near the top are Hall-of-Famers.  Scott Stevens, Ray Bourque, Larry Murphy, Johnny Bucyk, Steve Yzerman; just some of the names that pop out at you.  All of them great players during their tour-of-duty in the NHL.

But what about the plumbers, the spear-carriers, the lunch-bucket guys who turned a skill set based on limited talent and hard work into an NHL career that spanned over 1000 games?  When you think about it, it’s those guys that deserved the proverbial gold watch.  Most hockey fans probably would be unaware that they played that many games in the league.

How about defenceman Luke Richardson, who got into 1417 games over the course of his 20-year NHL career that was spent with 6 teams, including two stops in Toronto?  No-one should seriously consider Richardson for the Hall-of-Fame, but this steady D-man sits 22^nd on the list of games played.  Only 21 other players have a longer service record that Luke Richardson.  That’s gotta count for something.

Or how about, in 31^st spot, Doug Mohns, who played 1390 games spread over 22 years and five teams, most of them with the Bruins and Blackhawks well before the 1967 expansion?

And what about Dean Prentice (1378), or Ron Stewart (1353), or how about James Patrick (1280), or Marc Bergevin (1191)?

Marc Bergevin???

I remember a lot of hockey players, but this guy totally slipped my mind, until I saw him sitting at number 82 on the list.  Is he mostly remembered for his wacky sense-of-humour?

The 60^th overall draft pick of the Chicago Black Hawks in 1983, Bergevin played those 1191 games wearing the colours of the Black Hawks, (when they still went with Black Hawks, not Blackhawks), the Islanders, Whalers, Lightning, Red Wings, Blues, Penguins, Tampa again, and finally the Vancouver Canucks.

Reminds me of Mike Sillinger, who recently retired after putting 1049 on his NHL clock, playing for a record 12 different NHL franchises over 18 seasons.

Again, only 238 NHL players have reached the 1000 game mark, and Marc Bergevin and Mike Sillinger are two of them?  No offense intended to either gentleman, but both their names do not leap-to-mind when I think of long careers.

But I am wrong.  Very wrong.  Other foot soldiers that dodged bullets and made their Grand Mark on the game include Derian Hatcher, Curtis Leschyshyn, Gaetan Duschesne, Don Lever, Todd Gill, Dallas Drake, and Tie Domi?

Tie Domi got into 1020 NHL regular season games.  How did he manage that?  The dude could skate, and he had better hands than most enforcers.

Sitting at number 238, as of the day I checked the list, right on 1000 games, is Hockey Hall-of-Famer Bernie Federko, a magician with the puck during his heyday with the St. Louis Blues.

Mark Recchi of the Boston Bruins leads all active players with 1500 games played, and that’s good for 14^th on the list.  And what a career he’s had.  Think of those early years with the Penguins, and then his point-scoring explosion while a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.  Good enough for the Hall-of-Fame?  He’s at least in the discussion.

A thousand games in the NHL?  That’s an accomplishment to be proud of.

- Mick Kern

Mick Kern appears courtesy of Live From Wayne Gretzky’s

Hockey’s greatest names will drop in daily on the NHL Power Play from Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant to deliver a fully comprehensive hockey program on radio, and now, television. Hockey fans present at Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant will have the opportunity to be as much part of the show as they will be listeners and viewers.  Read More

Wayne Gretzky’s Restaurant celebrated the Hockey Hall of Fame Induction weekend with a private party hosted for Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille. Both Brett and Luc enjoyed a dinner reception with family on the eve of their induction along with a surprise guest; the Stanley Cup.

I’m still trying to get my head around why the Oilers celebrated their “30th anniversary season” in 2008-09, which was the franchise’s 36th season, including its 29th in the NHL. (The lockout season does NOT count in my books — fridiculous!)

From an NHL perspective a whole bunch of 30th anniversaries will take place in 2009-10. This week marks three decades since that first NHL training camp. What an exciting time it was to be a hockey fan! The past twelve months had already seen…

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I’m pleased that today’s decision by Judge Baum resolves much of the uncertainty surrounding the Phoenix Coyotes.   This positive step will now allow the organization to focus all its energy on the current season.  I’m confident the team will build on their early successes and renew the loyalty of many hockey fans in the Phoenix area.  I know the NHL will now do its utmost to find an excellent owner for the franchise going forward.

I wish for nothing but the best for the Phoenix Coyotes, their fans and the City of Glendale.

- Wayne