ST-LAURENT, QC, April 1 /CNW/ - Former NHL great Yvan Cournoyer spent
three hours today with St-Laurent's own Versant-Ouest Tornades Atom CC minor
boys hockey team as part of the Scotiabank NHL Alumni Skills Contest -
offering professional coaching and skills training to 10 winning teams across
Canada. On-ice, Cournoyer worked with the youth on their defensive, offensive
and puck-handling skills; while off-ice he spent time addressing the
importance of teamwork, dedication and highlights of his journey to the NHL.
    "This is a great opportunity for young hockey hopefuls to learn about the
experiences they can have by setting goals and following their dreams," said
Cournoyer. "The Versant-Ouest Tornades players know that to give themselves
the best possible chance of playing to their full potential, they must prepare
for anything, which means practice, discipline and commitment. Those are
lessons they can take with them everywhere they go."
    The Tornades are one of 10 teams who won on-ice training with former NHL
stars under the Scotiabank NHL Alumni Skills Contest. Each team will have a
chance to meet and work with one member of the NHL Alumni. Participating
alumni include Trevor Linden, Lanny McDonald, Bryan Trottier, Darryl Sittler
and Yvan Cournoyer.
    "Scotiabank's hockey programs provide exciting experiences like this one
for hockey lovers in our community," said Angie Petrogiannis, Scotiabank
Branch Manager. "As Canada's hockey bank, we know that hockey is important to
many of our employees and customers who either watch or play the game or have
kids enrolled in the sport. Supporting these efforts with unique contests
creates unique experiences for everyone who loves the game."
    "This was a truly awesome experience for us when Scotiabank sponsored our
team for $500 and then to win their contest and meet Yvan Cournoyer," said
Denis Fiamegas, Coach for the Versant-Ouest Tornades. "This is such a great
opportunity for the boys. Yvan has a great deal of hockey wisdom to share with
our team and he brings with him a sense of fair play both on and off the ice
in the community. These are qualities that we try to instill in the team and I
know this will be an experience they never forget."
    Teams qualified for the Scotiabank NHL Alumni Skills contest through the
broader Scotiabank Community Hockey Sponsorship program where Scotiabank's
1000 Canadian retail branches were given funds to contribute to minor hockey
teams in the 2008-2009 season. In addition to funding, minor hockey teams in
the program received exclusive Scotiabank 'Official bank of the NHL' shoulder
crests featuring the NHL Shield and a skills DVD featuring Montreal Canadiens'
superstar, Alex Kovalev. Teams were also provided with complimentary skate
sharpening, and exclusive entry to experiential contests, like the NHL Alumni
Skills contest. For more information, please visit the re-designed and
re-launched ScotiaHockey website, www.scotiahockey.com.
    As the Official Bank of the NHL, NHLPA, NHL Alumni and the CWHL, we are
very proud to be Canada's Hockey Bank. 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 hockey and believes it is
fundamental to helping young people learn about teamwork, camaraderie and the
spirit of competition. Scotiabank also 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 2008 the Bank provided about $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 Scotiabank
at www.scotiabank.comNHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey
    League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams.
    All Rights Reserved.