CALGARY, April 8 /CNW/ - Former Calgary Flame and Hockey Hall of Fame
member Lanny McDonald spent three hours today with Girls Hockey Calgary's
Mighty Mustangs Atom division team as part of the Scotiabank NHL Alumni Skills
Contest, which is offering professional coaching and skills training to 10
winning teams across Canada. On-ice, McDonald worked with the nine and 10 year
old girls 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
McDonald. "The Mighty Mustangs 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 in life."
    The Mustangs 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 John Kowalski, Scotiabank
Vice-President, Calgary District. "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."
    "We are so excited to spend time with such a great role model and hockey
icon," said Clare Merlo, team parent on the Mustangs, and contest entrant.
"Lanny McDonald does so many positive things for the community and is a great
promoter for the game of hockey. We feel honored to have him to ourselves for
three hours, learning skills and hearing some of his life experiences. Thank
you Scotiabank for making this possible for our team."
    Teams qualified for the Scotiabank NHL Alumni Skills contest through the
broader Scotiabank Community Hockey Sponsorship program through which
Scotiabank's 1,000 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 into 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.com

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