Tessa Bonhomme, Scotiabank's newest Hockey Ambassador, to participate in Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada and Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest Calgary

TORONTO, Feb. 2 /CNW/ - Scotiabank, Canada's Hockey Bank, today announced a new partnership with 2010 Winter Olympic Gold Medalist Tessa Bonhomme, welcoming her to the Bank's existing all-star line-up of hockey ambassadors. Ms. Bonhomme, the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) first overall draft pick in 2010, currently plays for Toronto HC (Hockey Club), and is a member of Canada's National Women's Hockey Team.

"Our new partnership with Tessa further strengthens our ability to reach out to Canadian communities of young hockey hopefuls," said Duncan Hannay, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Marketing.  "We look forward to having Tessa as part of our team, bringing together our wide range of hockey partnerships, including role models and ambassadors in hockey, to create new and build on existing opportunities to be a part of this great game across Canada."

"Becoming a hockey ambassador on behalf of Scotiabank was an easy decision for me - it has always been a dream of mine to help girls who want to get more involved in the game of hockey," said Ms. Bonhomme.  "Through the grassroots hockey programs that Scotiabank sponsors, girls can learn to give themselves the best possible chance of performing to their full potential. Both Scotiabank and I recognize and support the ongoing demand for skills training and exposure to women athletes as role models to young girls."

Ms. Bonhomme will be making her first appearance as Scotiabank's Hockey Ambassador at a Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest in Oakville on Saturday, February 12^th coaching more than 300 young girls from the Oakville Hornets Girls Hockey Association as part of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada on CBC.  Ms. Bonhomme will also coach young female hockey players at Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest at Scotiabank Saddledome, home of the Calgary Flames, alongside Cassie Campbell on March 27th, 2011.  Tessa joins Cassie Campbell and Jarome Iginla as Scotiabank Hockey Ambassadors. 

"Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest demonstrates what is possible," added Bonhomme.  "It shows our participants what they are capable of with the right training and encouragement."

In addition to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Tessa Bonhomme, selected as the 2010 top draft pick for the CWHL, helped bring home the Gold medal at the 2010 Women's Four Nations Cup, the 2007 IIHF World Women's Championship and the 2005 Air Canada Cup as well as the Silver medal at the 2009 World Championship and the 2006 Air Canada Cup.  Now in her fifth year with the Canadian National Women's Hockey team, Ms. Bonhomme is originally from Sudbury, Ontario, and played for the Sudbury Lady Wolves from 1998-2003 before attending Ohio State where she was co-captain of the Ohio State Buckeyes women's hockey team in the NCAA.  

For the bio of Tessa Bonhomme, please follow this link: http://files.newswire.ca/295/Bio_TessaBonhomme.pdf

As the Official Bank of the NHL®, NHLPA®, NHL Alumni™ 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 it is fundamental to helping young people learn about teamwork, camaraderie and the spirit of competition. Scotiabank's partnership with Pro Hockey Life provides exclusive in-store and online discounts to the Bank's customers, promotes advice on equipment and enhances the grassroots community programs of both companies. Scotiabank also has partnerships with the Montreal Canadiens®, the Calgary Flames® whose home arena is the Scotiabank Saddledome, and the Ottawa Senators® 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 2010 the Bank provided about $50 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.