BATHURST, NB, March 24 /CNW/ - The Stanley Cup(TM), Canada's oldest and
most famous sports trophy will travel to Canada's East Coast arriving at
Bathurst's Scotiabank branch in Place Bathurst Mall on Saturday, April 5th. In
celebration of the sport and spirit of hockey, the Cup will be greeted by
hockey fans, families and the community to have their photos taken with it
between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., courtesy of Scotiabank.
    "Bringing the Stanley Cup(TM) to the centre of Bathurst is a great
opportunity for Scotiabank to give back to our community - our customers and
employees are hockey moms and dads, coaches, players and fans," said Marcia
Gaudet, District Vice President, Eastern New Brunswick. "Scotiabank has
recently deepened its involvement in hockey from coast-to-coast and from minor
leagues to professional teams. We know that Canadians love this game, and this
is another way for us to generate more enthusiasm as we celebrate the love of
the sport of hockey."
    Canadians have been playing ice hockey on ponds and arenas across the
country since before Confederation. From professional to minor leagues, hockey
is a sport that is steeped in our national heritage and loved by Canadians
everywhere.
    The only trophy in all of sport that is taken home for a day by each
player of the winning team, the Stanley Cup(TM) has logged more than
400,000 miles in travel during the past five seasons, including a visit to
Moscow's Kremlin and a historic visit to an Aboriginal Metis Settlement.
    Arguably the most famous trophy in the sporting world, the
Stanley Cup(TM) was first presented in 1893 and is the oldest trophy vied for
by professional athletes. It was crafted in Sheffield, England and purchased
for 10 guineas ($48.67 at the time) in 1892. There is a second version of the
Stanley Cup that remains in the Hockey Hall of Fame, which never travels, and
is used for display purposes only at the Hall when the Stanley Cup is
traveling.
    In its 176th year, Scotiabank's support of hockey dates back to the days
of the banker leagues professional hockey that predate the NHL. The Bank's
involvement with the sport has included minor league team sponsorships,
employee volunteer coaching, and a unique hockey banking program. In the 1970s
Scotiabank responded to Canadian kids' enthusiasm for the game by launching
The Scotiabank Hockey College. The program encouraged Canadian youth to open
and maintain savings accounts with rewards of hockey posters and NHL game
tickets. Most recently, the Bank launched a new contest that challenges hockey
fans across Canada to build replicas of the Stanley Cup(TM) using ordinary
materials of their choice. Scotiabank will recognize Canada's creative spirit
and send two Grand Prize winners and three guests each to a Stanley Cup Final
game.
    In addition to becoming the Official Bank of NHL and NHLPA in Canada,
Scotiabank currently has partnerships with the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton
Oilers and the Ottawa Senators whose home arena is Scotiabank Place.
Scotiabank also partners with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada to sponsor its
pre-game show, Scotiabank Hockey Tonight, and the Scotiabank Hockey Tonight
Kids segment. For more details on Scotiabank's involvement in hockey, please
visit www.scotiahockey.com.

    Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live
and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally
and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic
activities, in 2007 the Bank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships
and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas
of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. Scotiabank is
on the World Wide Web at www.scotiabank.com.

    NHL and the image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and the
    word mark Stanley Cup is a trademark of the National Hockey League.
    (C) NHL 2008. All Rights Reserved.

    NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. (C) NHL
    2008. All Rights Reserved.