Paul Coffey drafted first overall by top fundraising team

EDMONTON, April 10 /CNW/ - For the nearly 300 amateur hockey players participating in this weekend's Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's, the opportunity to play with and against a host of former NHL greats was hugely motivating. At the event's Draft Party extravaganza Friday night, organizers announced the whopping fundraising total of $1 million raised for the Gordie & Colleen Howe Fund for Alzheimer's.

At stake for the 18 participating teams was first draft choice, awarded to the top fundraising team. The Acme Scrappers, captained by Michael Schayer, finished in first place, raising more than $80,650 and selected Paul Coffey. Schayer was also recognized as the top individual fundraiser and presented with the 'Gordie Howe Award' for single-handedly raising over $51,000.

"No matter what happens on the ice this weekend, Alzheimer's disease is the big winner of this tournament," said Bill Gaudette, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Alberta & Northwest Territories. "The need to fund research is more critical than ever as we face the grim fact that someone in Canada develops dementia every five minutes. In 30 years, there will be one new case every two minutes."

"Since Gordie Howe came to Edmonton to launch the Pro-Am last October, Edmontonians have responded with open arms and tremendous energy. We are extremely grateful for all they have done to 'Stick it to Alzheimer's'," added Mark Gryfe, President of Baycrest Foundation, an international leader in aging and brain health, which founded the Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's four years ago in Toronto.

Through the Howe Fund, proceeds from the Edmonton event will fund research in Alzheimer's and related disorders at Baycrest and in Alberta, including research at the University of Alberta through the Alzheimer Society of Alberta & Northwest Territories.

"As Canada's Hockey Bank, Scotiabank is thrilled to be a part of an event that combines our love of hockey with the fight against Alzheimer's," said Chris Bruce, Scotiabank Vice-President, Edmonton District. "We salute all of the participating players for their commitment and hard work. Funds raised through their efforts have exceeded our wildest expectations, especially since this is the first time the Scotiabank Pro-Am has been held in the West."

Top 10 Fundraising Teams & Draft Picks

1.  Acme Scrappers                   $80,656     Paul Coffey
    2.  Wendell Sr.'s Weekend Warriors   $80,492     Lanny McDonald
    3.  Canada ICI                       $69,695     Wendel Clark
    4.  Scotiabank Alzheimer's Avengers  $64,200     Glenn Anderson
    5.  Pals Puck Hogs                   $64,136     Marty McSorley
    6.  The Lights                       $57,479     Mark Napier
    7.  Team Cynamon                     $51,220     Mike Krushelnyski
    8.  Canadian Direct Crusaders        $36,065     Dave Hunter
    9.  PCL Construction                 $31,018     Dave Lumley
    10. MLA All Stars                    $30,147     Chris Nilan

Top 10 Individual Fundraisers

1.  Michael Schayer      Acme Scrappers                   $51,056
        * Recipient of 'Gordie Howe Award'
    2.  Geoff Badger         Wendell Sr.'s Weekend Warriors   $42,752
    3.  David Cynamon        Team Cynamon                     $26,878
    4.  Brian Young          Canadian Direct Crusaders        $25,500
    5.  Dale Klein           Canada ICI                       $23,150
    6.  Greg Christenson     MLA All Stars                    $18,762
    7.  Mark Asbell          The Lights                       $17,931
    8.  Brian Beresh         The Lights                       $11,725
    9.  Kevin Love           The Lights                       $11,000
    10. Shawn Blustein       Acme Scrappers                   $10,493

As the event's 18 teams and their NHL alumnus hit the ice this weekend (see attached list of NHL alumni and game schedule), members of the public will have the opportunity to watch their hockey heroes in action at two FREE special exhibition games:

Saturday, April 10 - 7:00 p.m.: Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
        Scotia iTrade(R) Arena - Fundraising All-Stars vs. the NHL Alumni.

        Sunday, April 11 - 1:00 p.m.: Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
        Scotia iTrade(R) Arena - Championship Game featuring the top two
        fundraising teams - each playing one period - vs. the NHL Alumni.
        Highest scoring fundraising team earns "ultimate bragging rights" for
        the tourney!

About the Event

The Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's is an innovative fundraiser that offers amateur hockey players the chance to play with and against a host of NHL alumni while raising critical funds for Alzheimer's research. Team's must raise a minimum of $25,000 and, based on total dollars raised, get to draft an NHL alumnus to play on their team.

The Edmonton Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's is an extension of the highly-successful Scotiabank Pro-Am Hockey Tournament - formerly known as the Baycrest International Pro-Am Hockey Tournament presented by Scotiabank - which has raised more than $7.5 million in its four-year history. The Scotiabank Pro-Am wishes to acknowledge the support of native Edmontonians and business leaders, Greg Christenson, co-owner of the Christenson Group of Companies(TM), and David Cynamon, Executive Chairman, K2 Pure Solutions(TM), who are volunteering their time as Tournament Co-Chairs.

About Baycrest

Baycrest is an academic health sciences centre, internationally renowned for its care of aging adults and its excellence in aging brain research, clinical interventions and treatments, and promising cognitive rehabilitation strategies. For more information about Baycrest, go to www.baycrest.org

About the Gordie & Colleen Howe Fund for Alzheimer's

Gordie and Colleen Howe's contribution to hockey is legendary, earning them the title Mr. and Mrs. Hockey(TM). When Colleen lost her battle with dementia in March of 2009, Gordie lost a wife, his children lost a mother and the world of hockey lost a champion. It was a battle that inspired the Howe family to improve the lives of others affected by the ravages of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. In pursuit of this mission, they have attached their name to the Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's. The Gordie & Colleen Howe Fund for Alzheimer's now represents an important partnership between Baycrest, the Alzheimer Society - Alberta & Northwest Territories, and the NHL Alumni Association(TM) in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

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 2009 the Bank provided about $39 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

Drafted NHL Alumni (in alphabetical order)

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    Glenn Anderson                       Mike Krushelnyski
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    Brian Benning                        Norm Lacombe
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    Perry Berezan                        Dave Lumley
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    Rob Brown                            Lanny McDonald
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    Wendel Clark                         Marty McSorley
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    Paul Coffey                          Mark Napier
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    Nathan Dempsey                       Kraig Nienhuis
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    Dave Hunter                          Chris Nilan
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    Chris Joseph                         Brian Skrudland
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Tournament Schedule (includes last name of NHL alumnus playing on each team)

Saturday, April 10, 2010
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    Time       Teams                                         Arena
    9:30 a.m.  Acme Scrappers (Coffey) vs.                   Scotia iTrade(R)
               All Weather Windows (Dempsey)
    10:00 a.m. Canadian Direct Crusaders (Hunter) vs.        Troy Murray
               Solutions Stallions (Skrudland)
               PCL Construction (Lumley) vs.                 Mark Messier
               Quantum Speed (Nienhuis)
    10:30 a.m. MLA All Stars (Nilan) vs.                     Scotia iTrade(R)
               Popeyes (Berezan)
    11:00 a.m. Wendell Sr.'s Wknd. Warriors (McDonald) vs.   Troy Murray
               Seagate (Benning)
               Pals Puck Hogs (McSorley) vs.                 Mark Messier
               The Lights (Napier)
    12:00 p.m. Team 1260 (Lacombe) vs.                       Troy Murray
               Serenity Funeral Service Bulldogs (Joseph)
    12:30 p.m. Acme Scrappers (Coffey) vs.                   Scotia iTrade(R)
               Scotiabank Alzheimer's Avengers (Anderson)
    1:00 p.m.  Avanzar Aeros (Brown) vs.                     Mark Messier
               Canada ICI (Clark)
    1:30 p.m.  Quantum Speed (Nienhuis) vs.                  Scotia iTrade(R)
               Team Cynamon (Krushelnyski)
    3:00 p.m.  Canadian Direct Crusaders (Hunter) vs.        Troy Murray
               Pals Puck Hogs (McSorley)
               Solutions Stallions (Skrudland) vs.           Mark Messier
               Popeyes (Berezan)
    3:30 p.m.  Serenity Funeral Service Bulldogs (Joseph)    Scotia iTrade(R)
               vs. All Weather Windows (Dempsey)
    4:00 p.m.  PCL Construction (Lumley) vs.                 Troy Murray
               Team 1260 (Lacombe)
               Scotiabank Alzheimer's Avengers (Anderson)    Mark Messier
               vs. Seagate (Benning)
    4:30 p.m.  Wendell Sr.'s Wknd Warriors (McDonald) vs.    Scotia iTrade(R)
               Avanzar Aeros (Brown)
    5:00 p.m.  MLA All Stars (Nilan) vs.                     Troy Murray
               The Lights (Napier)
               Canada ICI (Clark) vs.                        Mark Messier
               Team Cynamon (Krushelnyski)

    7:00 p.m.  FREE Exhibition All Star Game - Top           Scotia iTrade(R)
               individual Fundraisers vs. NHL Alumni


    Sunday, April 11, 2010
    ----------------------

    Time       Teams                                         Arena
    9:00 a.m.  Quantum Speed (Nienhuis) vs.                  Scotia iTrade(R)
               Serenity Funeral Service Bulldogs (Joseph)
    9:30 a.m.  Solutions Stallions (Skrudland) vs.           Troy Murray
               The Lights (Napier)
               Avanzar Aeros (Brown) vs.                     Mark Messier
               Seagate (Benning)
    10:00 a.m. Scotiabank Alzheimer's Avengers (Anderson)    Scotia iTrade(R)
               Canada ICI (Clark)
    10:30 a.m. Canadian Direct Crusaders (Hunter) vs.        Troy Murray
               Popeyes (Berezan)
               Team 1260 (Lacombe) vs.                       Mark Messier
               Acme Scrappers (Coffey)
    11:00 a.m. Pals Puck Hogs (McSorley) vs.                 Scotia iTrade(R)
               MLA All Stars (Nilan)
    11:30 a.m. PCL Construction (Lumley) vs.                 Troy Murray
               All Weather Windows (Dempsey)
               Team Cynamon (Krushelnyski) vs.               Mark Messier
               Wendell Sr.'s Wknd Warriors (McDonald)

    1:00 p.m.  Championship Game - Acme Scrappers &          Scotia iTrade(R)
               Wendell Sr.'s Wknd Warriors face off against
               NHL Alumni