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COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that Scott Howson has agreed to a multi-year contract to serve as the general manager of the National Hockey League club. As is club policy, terms were not disclosed.

"I am very pleased to have Scott Howson join the Blue Jackets organization as general manager," said Majority Owner and Chairman John H. McConnell. "In Scott, we know we found the right person to lead our hockey operations department. He is an extremely bright, hard-working individual who is widely respected and we couldn’t be more proud to have him in Columbus."

Howson, 47, joins the Blue Jackets after spending seven years with the Edmonton Oilers. He joined the club in June 2000 as assistant to the general manager and was named assistant general manager a year later. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of the club's hockey administration, including player contracts, personnel decisions, the collective bargaining agreement and the salary cap.

During his six seasons with the Oilers, the club posted five-straight winning campaigns from 2000-06, averaged 37 wins and 89 points per season, topped 90 points four times and advanced to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated in seven games by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Prior to his arrival in Edmonton, Howson spent six years with the club's American Hockey League affiliates. As general manager of the Cape Breton Oilers from 1994-96, he oversaw the franchise’s move to Hamilton in 1996 and was the Bulldogs' general manager from 1996-00. In four seasons, he led Hamilton to a pair of berths in the Calder Cup Finals (1997, 2003) and a conference semi-finals appearance in 2002.

"I am excited and proud to join the Columbus Blue Jackets organization and want to thank the McConnell family and ownership group for giving me this opportunity," said Howson. "I look forward to getting started right away and working with our staff to build a championship caliber team for the great fans this team has in Columbus and throughout Ohio."

Howson was born on April 9, 1960 in Toronto, Ontario. He played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League as a forward with the Kingston Canadiens from 1978-81, serving as team captain and earning OHL All-Star honors. Following his junior career, he signed a free agent contract with the New York Islanders and spent the next five years playing at various levels throughout the organization.

During his rookie season in 1981-82, he was named the International Hockey League's Rookie of the Year after registering 55-65-120 in 71 games with the Toledo Goaldiggers. He was the league's second-leading scorer that year and helped Toledo capture the league championship. Howson also won a Central Hockey League title with the Indianapolis Checkers in 1982-83. He made his NHL debut with the Islanders during the 1984-85 season and tallied 4-1-5 and two penalty minutes in eight games. He added 1-2-3 and two penalty minutes in 10 games the following season before retiring as a player at the end of the 1985-86 season.

Howson received his bachelor's degree in 1987 from York University in Toronto and is a 1990 graduate of the university's Osgoode Hall Law School. He and his wife, Antoinette Mongillo, are the parents of a son, Max, and daughters, Rebekah and Joanna.

The 2007 NHL Entry Draft will be held at Nationwide Arena on Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23. The first round will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday night with rounds 2-7 beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

For information on Blue Jackets season tickets, mini-plans and group tickets for the 2007-08 National Hockey League season, call (614) 246-PUCK or (800) NHL-COLS.

Scott Howson at a Glance

Born: April 9, 1960 in Toronto, Ontario

Family: Wife, Antoinette Mongillo; son, Max (10); daughters, Rebekah (9) and Joanna (5)

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree, York University, 1987 York University Osgoode Hall Law School , 1990

Management Career: Edmonton Oilers Assistant General Manager, 2001-07; Edmonton Oilers Assistant to the General Manager, 2000-01; Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) General Manager, 1996-00; Cape Breton Oilers (AHL) General Manager, 1994-96

Playing Career: New York Islanders organization, 1981-86; Kingston Canadiens (OHL), 1978-81