Game On! Scotiabank welcomes the return of the NHL season

Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada to be held in Peterborough

TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Scotiabank welcomes the return of the NHL® season with the announcement of the first game on Saturday, January 19. With the 2012-2013 season back in action, Scotiabank is also excited to invite Canadian hockey lovers of all ages to celebrate Canada's national pastime with Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, this year happening in Peterborough on February 9.

"We join with all Canadian hockey fans who are excited to see the return of a sport so close to our hearts," said Anatol von Hahn, Group Head of Canadian Banking at Scotiabank. "We are looking forward to that first puck drop so that we can get back to cheering on our favourite teams as they return to the ice. As an active sponsor of teams in communities across the country, hockey is at the heart of our culture, and Scotiabank is thrilled to support a sport that enriches the lives of Canadian hockey fans."

With the return of the NHL Hockey season, Scotiabank is gearing up for Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, a full day of hockey with games featuring matchups between Canada's NHL teams, which will be broadcast on CBC. The celebration starts at 12:00 p.m. on February 9, with festivities across the country featuring some of hockey's best known stars.

"There's nothing more exciting than cheering for your team - whether that team is playing on a pond, a community rink or in a professional arena and hockey in Canada gives us countless opportunities to be part of a team," said Duncan Hannay, Senior Vice President, Canadian Marketing, Scotiabank. "In addition to our support of professional hockey teams this season, Scotiabank is looking forward to bringing our hockey fans a full-day celebration of hockey with Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada. It's just one of the ways Scotiabank is delivering on its deep commitment to community-based programs, and we're proud to play a role in supporting hockey in communities across Canada."

Scotiabank current hockey programs include:

• Scotiabank Community Hockey Sponsorship Program, part of the Scotiabank Bright Future philanthropic program, where each of Scotiabank's more than 1000 Canadian branches are given $1000 to sponsor minor league hockey in their community. Under this program in 2012, 4,456 youth community hockey teams have been sponsored.
• In December 2012, Scotiabank surprised five minor hockey teams in regions across Canada by bringing the Stanley Cup to their practice.
• Scotia Skaters, where young minor hockey players win a chance to skate and line up with their home team for the national anthem.
• Scotiabank Girls' HockeyFest, which takes place annually in Ottawa, Calgary and Oakville and brings aspiring young female players together with elite Canadian women hockey players.
• Official Bank of the National Hockey League, Official Bank of the Ottawa Senators (whose home arena is Scotiabank Place), Calgary Flames (whose home arena is the Scotiabank Saddledome), Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets, NHL Alumni, Canadian Women's Hockey League.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is the Official Bank of the NHL®, NHL Alumni™, CWHL, Winnipeg JetsTM, Toronto Maple Leafs®, Calgary Flames® whose home arena is the Scotiabank Saddledome, and the Ottawa Senators® whose home arena is Scotiabank Place. The Bank also has a partnership with the Montreal Canadiens®. Scotiabank has a long tradition of supporting hockey in Canada from local teams and minor hockey associations to professional players and leagues. Across Canadian communities from coast to coast, Scotiabank's Community Hockey Sponsorship Program reaches out to almost 4,500 minor hockey teams and leagues. To find out more about Scotiabank's hockey programs, please visit www.facebook.com/scotiahockeyclub.

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, 'Bright Future'.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $45 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

SOURCE: Scotiabank - Sponsorships & Donations

Sheena Findlay

Scotiabank Media Communications

416-866-6806

[email protected]