NHL's Alex Burrows joins minor boys' hockey team in a Scotiabank Ultimate
    Hockey BanquetVANCOUVER, June 1 /CNW/ - The Vancouver Thunderbirds, Atom C3, team
Hurricanes boys hockey team is celebrating the end of the 2008-2009 minor
hockey season with Vancouver Canucks' Alex Burrows at the Scotiabank Ultimate
Hockey Banquet as part of a contest won through Scotiabank's Community Hockey
Sponsorships Program. Burrows will toast the Hurricanes and will address the
boys' team providing key insights into his career and offering advice to the
team players for the future.
    "These young hockey players should be proud of the journey that they have
been through together this season, and the memories of their teammates and
friends will last a lifetime," said Burrows. "Some of the best aspects of our
game include being part of a team, having fun and making new friends. To have
the season finish for the Vancouver Hurricanes with a great evening like this
makes me proud to be a part of tonight's Scotiabank Ultimate Hockey Banquet."
    The Thunderbirds are one of 10 teams who won the Scotiabank Ultimate
Hockey Banquet Contest, scoring a celebratory banquet for 150 guests paid for
by Scotiabank with an NHL player as the guest of honour. Participating NHL
players include Chris Kelly, Nigel Dawes, Mathieu Dandenault, Guillaume
Latendresse, Maxim Lapierre, Andrew Ference, Alex Burrows, Sheldon Souray,
Ryane Clowe and Luke Schenn.
    "Hockey is more than a sport in Canada. It's part of our culture and no
more so than at the community level," said Scotiabank Branch Manager Melanie
Liivam. "Scotiabank recognizes that paying for equipment, ice time and
tournaments are expensive for players and their parents. Through our community
hockey programs we have been able to step in and help out where we can.
Supporting these efforts with unique contests creates exceptional experiences
for everyone who loves the game."
    "The kids and their families are thrilled!" said Betty Pantazis, Team
Manager for the Thunderbirds. "We were very pleased when Scotiabank helped
sponsor our team earlier this year, and to have won this prize and learn about
a professional hockey career is fantastic. Andrew Burrows is an inspirational
athlete for the boys. This is a great learning opportunity for the team, and a
wonderful way to celebrate the hard work and dedication they gave during their
hockey season."
    Teams qualified for the Scotiabank Ultimate Hockey Banquet 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. The teams are entitled to a Q&A
period, photograph and autograph session with the NHL player. Each team member
also received an exclusive NHL Prize Pack.
    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
and the Scotiabank Ultimate Hockey Banquet. 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.comNHLPA is a registered trademark of the National Hockey League Players'
    Association. All Rights Reserved.

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