First-ever fan-driven award launches October 11th

    TORONTO, Oct. 9 /CNW/ - The National Hockey League (NHL), Scotiabank and
CBC are teaming up to launch the first ever fan-driven NHL award - the
Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Award, an all-new award given to the player who NHL
fans vote to be the best overall Regular Season performer. The award will be
presented by one lucky fan to the winner at the 2009 NHL Awards.
    "Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav is the NHL's first ever fan-driven award and
gives hockey fans across the country a real voice in their game," said John
Doig, Senior Vice-President of Marketing for Scotiabank. "Scotiabank has a
long history of supporting hockey in Canada and we're proud to work with the
NHL to create this award. Canadians are passionate about hockey and with the
Scotiabank Fan Fav, fans from coast to coast can really get in the game."
    Starting October 11th, at the end of each week the NHL will evaluate
player performances from the previous week, choosing the three players who
have demonstrated the best skills and strongest overall performance during
that week. Those players will then be revealed each Saturday night on NHL.com
and during CBC's Hockey Night in Canada telecast. Fans will be directed to
vote for their Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Award on NHL.com. With each vote, fans
will be entered into a weekly draw to win NHL prizes.
    At the conclusion of the NHL regular season in April, all of the weekly
Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Award nominees from the regular season will be
evaluated by a panel of NHL experts to narrow the list to 10 finalists. Fans
will then have one more opportunity to vote at NHL.com for the winner.
    When the Stanley Cup Playoffs end, the votes will be tallied and one
lucky voting fan will win a trip for two to the NHL Awards where the winner
will make hockey history by presenting the Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Award to the
winning player on CBC's live broadcast.
    "We are excited to work with Scotiabank on this innovative initiative
that brings NHL fans together," said Keith Wachtel, Senior Vice-President,
Corporate Sales & Marketing for the NHL. "The Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Award is
one more way we're letting fans have a more personal experience with the NHL."
    Full details of the contest are available at NHL.com.About Scotiabank
    ----------------Scotiabank has a long tradition of supporting hockey in Canada from local
teams and minor hockey associations to professional players and leagues.
Through its partnerships, Scotiabank's hockey programs enrich the communities
where Canadians live and work by engaging fans and players in new ways to
celebrate our game. Scotiabank supports the passion and pride Canadians feel
for the game and is fundamental to helping young people learn about teamwork
camaraderie and the spirit of competition. Scotiabank is the Official Bank of
the NHL, NHLPA, NHL Alumni and CWHL, and has partnerships with the Calgary
Flames and the Ottawa Senators whose home arena is Scotiabank Place. For more
information, on Scotiabank's hockey programs 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. Visit us at
www.scotiabank.com.About the NHL
    -------------The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the
four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL
consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League's international
makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters.
According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more
educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than
any other sport. The NHL entertains more than 100 million fans each season
in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN,
CBC, RDS, RIS, NASN, ASN and NHL Network) and radio (NHL Radio, Sirius XM
Radio and XM Canada). Through the NHL Foundation, the League's charitable arm,
the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer and NHL Youth
Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more
information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.About CBC
    ---------CBC's Hockey Night in Canada has been a national institution since 1952.
Now entering its 56th season on CBC TV, it remains the most popular weekly
sports program on Canada, averaging more than a million viewers every Saturday
night. Hockey fans can visit cbcsports.ca 24 hours a day, seven days a week
for live and on-demand video streaming of all games as well as comprehensive
NHL coverage, including weekly columns from CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
personalities, breaking news, in-depth reports, broadcast schedules and more.

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mark Stanley Cup are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All Rights
Reserved.