Thrashers Sign Head Coach Bob Hartley to Contract Extension

ATLANTA, GA (Aug. 31, 2005) -- The Atlanta Thrashers have signed Head
Coach Bob Hartley to a contract extension through the 2006-07 season,
according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.

"We feel that with Bob's leadership, professionalism and winning track
record, he is the coach that will guide this team to success for many
years," said Waddell. "We are pleased to have him leading our team and
look forward to the future of the franchise with him behind the bench."

Hartley, who is the second head coach in team history, is entering his
third season with the Thrashers since being named to the position on
Jan. 14, 2003. He has guided Atlanta to a 52-56-13 record in one-and-a-
half seasons behind the bench, including a franchise-best 33-37-8-4
record in his first full season with the team in 2003-04. Hartley has
posted an overall record of 245-174-61-6 and a .574 winning percentage
in 480 games as a head coach in the NHL with the Thrashers and Colorado
Avalanche. In 16 seasons as a head coach in the NHL, minor leagues and
juniors, he has led his teams to a combined 603-446-107 record, 14
playoff appearances and has won league championships at every level.

The native of Hawkesbury, Ontario, served as Colorado's head coach from
1998-2002 and guided them to the 2001 Stanley Cup Championship, four
Northwest Division titles and four consecutive trips to the Western
Conference Finals (1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002). In 359 regular-season
games with the Avalanche, he earned a 193-118-48 record and a 49-31
record in 80 post-season games. Named as their head coach on June 30,
1998, he currently ranks as the Avalanche's all-time coaching leader in
wins.

Prior to joining Colorado, Hartley served as the head coach of the
Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League for two seasons (1996-1998)
and holds the distinction of being one of only four head coaches to win
the Stanley Cup and the AHL's Calder Cup, which he claimed with the
Bears in 1997. Before his stint in Hershey, he served as the head coach
of the Cornwall Aces of the AHL for two seasons (1994-96). In four
seasons as an AHL head coach, he earned an overall record of 151-136-33
and four consecutive playoff appearances.

Hartley spent two seasons as the head coach of the Laval Titans of the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (1991-93), compiling an 81-52-7
record. In 1993 he led Laval to the QMJHL and Memorial Cup
championships. From 1987-1991 he was head coach for Hawkesbury of the
Central Junior Hockey League, where he won league championships in 1990
and 1991.

During last year's NHL lockout, Hartley entrenched himself in the
Atlanta hockey community, spending countless hours helping to develop
the game, providing on-ice instruction for players at all levels,
including those in the Junior Thrashers Program. In addition, he hosted
clinics for ice and in-line coaches, and participated in USA Hockey's
2005 National Hockey Coaches Symposium and Hockey Canada's Advanced II
Level National Coaching Certification Program. Hartley also established
the international youth hockey tournament, called the Friendship Cup,
and played a key role in developing and running the April 2005 event
that featured teams from Atlanta, Florida, Canada and Russia, as well as
and a visit by the Stanley Cup.