Olympic Gold Medalist Carla MacLeod on board as 'head coach'

CALGARY, Oct. 16 /CNW/ - Scotiabank is partnering with Olympic Gold Medal winner Carla MacLeod and the Calgary Flames to host the second annual Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Pengrowth Saddledome. This free event offers 300 novice, atom, peewee, and bantam-level girls the opportunity to improve both on-ice game skills and off-ice life skills with coaching from some of the best female hockey players in the world. Registration for the event is now open at www.scotiahockeyclub.com/calgary

"As the official bank of the Canadian Women's Hockey League and through partnerships with organizations like our good friends at the Calgary Flames, Scotiabank has a tremendous opportunity to create programs that will enable girls and young women to cultivate their talents and abilities," said George Marlatte, Senior Vice-President, Prairie Region, Scotiabank. "Last year's inaugural event was a huge hit, attracting girls from throughout Calgary and surrounding communities, and we look forward to another great event this year."

Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest features two half-day sessions for young female hockey players aged seven to 14, plus a presentation and keynote address by MacLeod. Carla will also facilitate on-ice skill sessions and off-ice training together with female hockey players with the University of Calgary and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) teams. The first session begins at 11 a.m. and the second session closes the day at 7 p.m. Equipment specialists from hockey megastore Pro Hockey Life, Scotiabank's new partner, will also be on hand to provide parents with advice and information about choosing equipment in terms of fit, material and safety.

"The Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest is a program that will help in the development of young hockey stars and we are proud to be a part of it," said Ken King, President & CEO of the Calgary Flames. "Calgary is a great hockey city, we are honoured to play here and supporting this event allows us to do our part in keeping it a great hockey city."

"Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest offers girls a blend of skills training, fun and encouragement," said Carla MacLeod, who won an Olympic gold medal in Turin in 2006 as a member of the Canadian national women's hockey team. "I am looking forward to sharing my hockey experience with the girls and showing them what they are capable of with the right training and attitude."

Carla MacLeod is currently in training to be on the Canadian women's team that will defend its gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver in February. Her career as a defenseman for the national team began in 2003 with a silver win in the Four Nations Cup. In 2005, the Spruce Grove, Alberta native won silver at the IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship. In 2006, she played in the Winter Olympics in Turin where the national team won Gold and she was named as a tournament all-star. In 2007, she played in the IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship, where Canada won its ninth world's gold medal. Prior to joining the national women's team, MacLeod was on the National Under-22 team from 1999-2003. She played with the Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for four years, serving as captain for the 03-04 and 04-05 seasons. Carla was also a member of Team Alberta at the 1995 and 1999 Canada Winter Games."

About Scotiabank

As the Official Bank of the NHL(R), NHLPA(R), NHL Alumni(TM) and the CWHL, Scotiabank is 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 that this great game helps young people learn about teamwork, camaraderie and the spirit of competition. Scotiabank also has partnerships with the Calgary Flames(R) and the Ottawa Senators(R) whose home arena is Scotiabank Place. For more information on Scotiabank's hockey programs visit www.scotiahockeyclub.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 us at www.scotiabank.com