Draft Jim from Rim Deadline Today

Geeks have yet to hear from Jim Balsillie

Moncton, NB-- The deadline imposed by Geeks on Ice organizers for Jim Balsillie to respond to their invitation will expire tonight. The “Draft Jim from Rim” campaign has attracted the attention of the public as well as the local, national and international media outlets who want to know one thing… Will Mr. Balsillie accept the invitation?

The campaign kicked-off in late January with letters from local business and community leaders being sent to the business icon requesting he attend the annual hockey tournament benefiting local non-profit agencies. The group of leaders who participated included Whitehill CEO Paul McSpurren, Aliant CIO Ivan Toner, FatKat Animation President Gene Fowler, Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne, Moncton City Councillor Doug Robertson and local MP Brian Murphy. Each letter is posted on www.GeeksonIce.com for the public to read.

Organizers have yet to hear from the Research in Motion co-CEO as of noon on deadline day. Many have speculated that Mr. Balsillie has no interest in playing alongside Atlantic Canada’s elite group of amateur hockey players and technology professionals. Know as a self described “hockey nut” and competitive golfer, Mr. Balsillie is best know for his attempt to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins in late 2006.

“Our committee determined that the combination of our tournament coinciding with Research in Motion’s one year anniversary in their Halifax office with the know fact that Mr. Balsillie is a hockey fan made him the perfect candidate for our goal to attract an industry icon”, says Trevor Macausland, Geeks on Ice Founder. “We are slightly disappointed that we have yet to hear from Mr. Balsillie, however; we are hoping to hear good news today”.

Should Jim Balsillie decide to pass on the opportunity to participate in this year’s event; the tournament committee has already set their sights on attracting another major technology icon for 2008 as part of their 5-year anniversary. Through media report in Europe the Geeks on Ice team has discovered that Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy is also a hockey enthusiast. The group has already contact Mr. McNealy about the tournament and he responded immediately. While Mr. McNealy has a conflict for 2007, he is interested in playing in Geeks on Ice 2008 as long as he does not have a scheduling conflict.