Legends of Hockey Net is a major new initiative to digitize and bring to life the Hockey Hall of Fame's vast archival collections," said Phil Pritchard, curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame. "We have worked to create a new dimension in on-line coverage for fans, using technology to showcase the Honoured Members and the Hockey Hall of Fame like never before."

Legends of Hockey Net has been developed to provide fans with an entertaining resource for learning everything about the players and the plays of a lifetime that represent the game of hockey throughout the last century and beyond.

Unique features on Legends of Hockey Net include:

• Exclusive Editorials and Video Footage: Drawing from an archive of more than 250 hours of exclusive video footage captured during the production of the Gemini-Award-winning Legends of Hockey television series, the new web channel will offer a unique and entertaining multimedia experience.

• Exclusive Photo Gallery: The initial development effort of the web channel included a pilot project to digitize and catalogue 100,000+ of the "best" images from the Hockey Hall of Fame's million-plus collection of photographs in association with the Hockey Hall of Fame Collections Management System ("CMS") initiative. The gallery also features a new section that showcases key artifacts that go beyond what's on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

• Extensive NHL Player Search: Fans will be able to access this new database, which features a registry of every player who has ever appeared in the NHL, including their career statistics, biographies and photos. Photos of the approximate 6,000 current and former players will be placed online as part of the initial image archive effort.

• Virtual Tour: The highlight of the site is a new virtual tour of the WorldCom Great Hall including the exclusive premiere of a 3-D tour of The Stanley Cup with zoom capabilities. Never before have fans been able to view The Stanley Cup on-line and read clearly the inscriptions on this hallowed icon. The tour also allows fans to view the etched-glass Honoured Members portraits and the NHL trophies on display in the "cathedral for the icons of hockey."

• Induction Showcase: For the first time, fans will be able to listen to a live audio webcast of the 2001 Induction ceremony, and enjoy additional coverage of the Induction Celebration festivities.

• The Legends Club / Game Time Plus: Hockey enthusiasts can also join the Hall of Fame's new on-line membership club to enjoy exclusive access to extended features on the site as well as "off-line" merchandising benefits. In addition, members and non-members can compete to win prizes via scheduled Game Time Plus webcasts - a unique game engine driven by the huge on-line information and image database.

Legends of Hockey Net is a $1.5-million Internet pilot project funded, in part, by WorldCom Canada Ltd. "WorldCom is delighted to assist the Hockey Hall of Fame's efforts to harness the power of the Internet to bring great moments in hockey history to life for fans to enjoy around the world," said Tal Bevan, president of WorldCom Canada. "We're honoured to serve as the Official Digital Services Provider of the Hockey Hall of Fame and to have our name associated with Legends of Hockey Net - an on-line experience where true competitive excellence is recognized."

For more information, visit www.legendsofhockey.net, or contact: