Anheuser-Busch: Chicago Residents Win Chance to Take On Wayne Gretzky in Bud Light Bubble Boys Exhibition Game.

Sports Editors/Hockey Writers & Columnists

DETROIT--(BW SportsWire)--June 5, 2002

National Champions from Chicago Face Off Against `Great One' Wayne

Gretzky and BBHL Players Agent Phil Esposito 

Following Intense Championship Competition

While the Red Wings and the Hurricanes paused today between Games 1 and 2 of the NHL(R) Stanley Cup Finals, hockey players of a different sort competed for a championship trophy of their own.

Hockey's "Great One," Wayne Gretzky, Hall of Famer, Phil Esposito and Bud Light hosted the fourth annual Bud Light Bubble Boys Hockey League (BBHL) National Championship, capping a four-month, adult consumer promotion held in bars and restaurants across the country.

Thirty-two, two-person teams who won their local market competitions, met tonight in a table hockey tournament in the Marriott Renaissance Center in Detroit for the BBHL national title and a chance to take on BBHL Commissioner Gretzky. Following hours of intense competition, team "Red Army," Kelly Walker and Tom Smith of Chicago skated away with the honors.

"Tonight's competition in the Bud Light Bubble Boys Hockey Championship really exemplified the competitive fires in our fans and loyal consumers," said Phil Ware, brand manager, Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "The evening was a great chance for hockey fans across the country to compete for the national championship and a chance to play Gretzky and Esposito while enjoying a Bud Light."

Defending Champions, "Team Respect," Bob Leary and Kenny DuBois of Boston, put up a good fight but were eventually outscored by Chicago's Red Army by a score of 4 - 2.

Following a trophy presentation by Gretzky and Esposito, the 2002 Bud Light Bubble Boys national champs faced off against the "Great One" and BBHL Players Agent Phil Esposito in a heated competition that Red Army won 3 - 0.

Also making an appearance were the guys from Hockey Falls. Hockey Falls -- a small hockey hamlet located just north of the Dakota's and a wee bit south of our sister to the north, Canada -- is featured in Bud Light's campaign supporting the NHL.

In Hockey Falls, hockey is more than a game; it's a way of life. The guys from Hockey Fall's include: Doug `Dooger' Armstrong, a died-in-the-wool Blues fan that works at the Falls Savings and Loan; Ray Orr, a lifelong Bruins fan and self confessed `rink rat.' Ray works for the local paper, The Falls Gazette; Matt Poleski lives for the New York Rangers. A movie buff, Matt works at Falls Video during the day and delivers pizza at night; and, Steve `Shotz' Park, a Devils fan now although he spent his childhood worshipping the Sabers. Steve manages the Falls Hardware store.

Official Beer

"Bubble Boys" are fictional three-inch characters based on the classic bubble-domed, barroom table hockey game. Throughout their 1999 season, Bubble Boys tried to join the NHL but were repeatedly denied due to their three-inch stature. Frustrated by rejection, the Bubble Boys created their own league to challenge the NHL and named Gretzky as acting commissioner in 2000, and hired their agent, Phil Esposito in 2001.

In addition to its Bubble Boys promotion, Bud Light supports its NHL sponsorship by annually awarding the Bud Light / NHL(R) All-Star Most Valuable Player Award at the League's All-Star Game and the Bud Light Plus/Minus Award, which recognizes the player recording the top plus-minus rating during the regular season. This season's Plus/Minus Award was/will be awarded to Chris Chelios of the Detroit Red Wings.

Bud Light, the world's best-selling premium light beer, is brewed by Anheuser-Busch, Inc., is the world's largest brewer.