The Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am announces Al Lafrate, Stéphane Richer and Scott Thornton among the NHL alumni who will participate in the 2015 tournament

Funds raised through Canada's largest charity hockey tournament support Alzheimer's disease and related dementia care, research, innovation and education through Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto.

TORONTO, Nov. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - The Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am announced Al Lafrate, Stéphane Richer and Scott Thornton will be among the lineup of NHL alumni such as Rick Vaive, Bryan Muir, Denis Savard and Marty McSorley, who are set to participate in the 10^th annual tournament next April.  Funds raised through Canada's largest charity hockey tournament support Alzheimer's disease and related dementia care, research, innovation and education through Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto.

"We are thrilled to have these legendary players join us for the 2015 Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am benefiting Baycrest Foundation and we are humbled and inspired by their commitment to helping advance this cause," said Garry Foster, President and CEO of Baycrest Foundation.

"1 in 11 Canadians age 65 or older are living with Alzheimer's or related dementia.  Baycrest Foundation is on a mission to transform the experience of aging through leading innovations in brain health, wellness promotion, and approaches to care that enrich the lives of older adults.  Our team of world-leading doctors and researchers at Baycrest Health Sciences are using the vital funds raised to lead ground-breaking Alzheimer's research, care and education programs right here in Toronto which are changing the way we diagnose and treat the disease around the world," Foster added. 

In nine years, the Baycrest Pro-Am raised over $25 million for Baycrest Foundation making it Canada's largest charity hockey tournament.  The team draft and round-robin tournament draws legendary NHL alumni along with hockey enthusiasts of all skill levels to play over two days each year in Toronto. 

"I joined the Pro-Am in 2007 for the opportunity to play with NHL greats, and then in 2008, when my father was diagnosed Alzheimer's, the Pro-Am had new meaning for me," said David Lewenberg, now a nine-year participant of the Pro-Am.

"Now I participate to support a foundation that works tireless to care for the aging, because my dad, a resident at Baycrest, is one of many who benefit from the funds raised at the tournament," Lewenberg added.

The 2015 Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am will begin April 30^th, 2015 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens, with a draft in which the top fundraising teams receive first pick at NHL alumni to join their team.  The two-day tournament will be held May 1-2, 2015 at Buckingham Arena and participants will play three round-robin games, with the two highest fundraising teams battling for top honours in the Championship Game. 

"The Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am is meant for all hockey players of all skill levels," said Foster.

"We invite everyone to join us in April and encourage everyone to register today by visiting www.scotiabankproam.com or by calling [phone] or 1-844 GO PROAM," Foster added.

To register, donate or request information about the Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am visit www.scotiabankproam.com or call [phone], or 1-844 GO PROAM.

ABOUT BAYCREST FOUNDATION:
The Baycrest Foundation's mission is to enrich the quality of life of our community by supporting programs and services that promote excellence in care, research, education and innovation in the field of aging. The Foundation helps provide crucial funding to Baycrest Health Sciences to support areas such as: ongoing medical programs and services for seniors living in our community; innovative research into cognition, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, stroke and aging brain health; and local, national, and international education that supports healthy aging and healthcare solutions for a growing senior population. For more information visit www.baycrest.org.

ABOUT BAYCREST HEALTH SCIENCES:
Headquartered on a 22-acre campus and fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, Baycrest is unique in the world, combining a comprehensive system of care for aging adults, one of the world's top research institutes in cognitive neuroscience (the Rotman Research Institute), dedicated centres focused on mitigating the impact of age-related illness and impairment, and unmatched global knowledge exchange and commercialization capacity.  Baycrest was recently ranked by Accreditation Canada as among the top five per cent of healthcare organizations in Canada for delivering excellence in care, patient safety and corporate operations. For more information, visit baycrest.org.

SOURCE: Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am

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