TORONTO, Sept. 6, 2011 /CNW/ - Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and Scotiabank (TSX:BNS) announced Tuesday that Scotiabank has entered an exclusive partnership to be the Official Bank of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The announcement of the agreement will take place at the 2011 Leafs & Legends Charity Golf Classic.  Scotiabank is the presenting sponsor of the event, benefitting the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) Team Up Foundation.   In addition to this landmark partnership, Scotiabank will also be the official bank of the Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

"The Toronto Maple Leafs is one of hockey's most historic and widely recognized teams.  We are excited to be partnering with an organization with such rich hockey traditions," said Duncan Hannay, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President of Canadian Marketing. "Scotiabank and its employees are passionate about hockey. Over the last several years we've worked hard to earn the designation of Canada's Hockey Bank by developing programs that unite us with professional and recreational players, leagues and facilities to connect fans with this sport we love. We have already begun planning with the Maple Leafs and the Marlies, and together we will be able to create programs that are truly special for hockey fans."

Over the course of the partnership, the Maple Leafs, Marlies and Scotiabank will provide a range of exciting experiential fan initiatives and community programs that will include youth skills development and women's hockey.

"The Maple Leafs and Marlies are iconic Canadian brands and it is only fitting that we are partnering with another storied Canadian institution and Canada's Hockey Bank," said Dave Hopkinson, Senior Vice-President, Business Partnerships, MLSE. "Scotiabank has built a strong brand and commitment to hockey that will resonate with our fans. We're thrilled to start working with Scotiabank and we look forward to presenting our fans and community with some amazing experiences over the next several years."

From a marketing perspective, the partnership will provide Scotiabank with significant branding, advertising and promotional opportunities with Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies audiences at Air Canada Centre, Ricoh Coliseum and beyond.

In kicking off the partnership at the charity golf tournament, Scotiabank is inviting hockey fans to make a donation to the MLSE Team Up Foundation at Toronto Region branches from today until the Maple Leafs' home opener on Thursday, October 6. The Bank is making an initial donation of $10,000 under the Scotiabank Bright Future community giving program. The MLSE Team Up Foundation improves the lives of youth by building facilities, giving to sustainable programs and empowering youth through sports and recreation.

"The MLSE Team Up Foundation is pleased to be actively engaged in the partnership between Scotiabank and the Toronto Maple Leafs," said Michael Bartlett, Executive Director, MLSE Team Up Foundation. "The in-branch donation program, in addition to a generous corporate donation and fundraising event sponsorships, demonstrates that Scotiabank is willing to lead by example in an effort to change the lives of youth through the spirit and power of sports."

The Maple Leafs will open their preseason schedule September 19 when they host the Ottawa Senators at Air Canada Centre. The Marlies will host the Syracuse Crunch on Sunday, October 2 in Schomberg, Ontario at the Trisan Centre to open their preseason.

About Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) is one of the world's premier sports and entertainment companies that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), the Toronto Raptors (NBA), the Toronto Marlies  (AHL), Toronto FC (MLS), Air Canada Centre, Maple Leaf Square and three digital channels - Leafs TV, NBA TV Canada and GOLTV Canada. MLSE has also invested in four of Toronto's sports facilities - Ricoh Coliseum, home of the Marlies, BMO Field, home of Toronto FC, Lamport Stadium, and the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence, the practice facility for the Maple Leafs and Marlies. MLSE operates and manages events at Ricoh Coliseum and BMO Field.

About Scotiabank
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.  Scotiabank has partnerships with the Toronto Maple Leafs®, 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, through our global philanthropic program, 'Bright Future'.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $44 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

As Canada's Hockey Bank, we are proud of the role that we've played in supporting hockey in Canada from local teams and minor hockey associations through to professional players and leagues. 

• Scotiabank is the Official Bank of the NHL, NHLPA, NHL Alumni and the CWHL and has partnerships with four Canadian NHL teams (Official Bank of the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs, partner on select initiatives with the Montreal Canadiens) two professional arenas (Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary and Scotiabank Place in Ottawa) and two American Hockey League (AHL) teams (St. John's Ice Caps and the Toronto Marlies).
  
  
• In 2010, Scotiabank's Community Hockey Program funded more than 34,000 minor hockey teams and leagues across the country. Under this program every Scotiabank branch across Canada receives $1000 to support a local team.
  
  
• Scotiabank Hockey Tonight Kids, launched in 2008, gives minor league teams an opportunity to introduce CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
  
  
• Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest is a day-long session held in four select locations across the country for 300 young female hockey players to spend a day learning skills and drills from former women's hockey medalists and current players.
  
  
• The Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's is a partnership with Baycrest, an international leader in aging and brain health.  This one-of-a-kind fundraiser gives amateur hockey players the chance to play with and against NHL alumni while raising funds for Alzheimer's research.
  
  
• Scotiabank has also partnered with ThinkFirst and Reebok-CCM Hockey to introduce ThinkFirst SMART HOCKEY - an educational video intended for young hockey players, their families, coaches and other game officials on how to play SMART HOCKEY to spot, treat and prevent brain and spinal cord injuries.
  
  
• Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada on CBC happens only once a year and is based in one Canadian community with remote locations across the country.  Scotiabank and CBC have partnered to bring hockey's favourite sport to communities from coast to coast to coast, with Canadian NHL teams playing on the same day.
  
  
• Now in its 5^th year, the Scotiabank Celebration of Hockey program has taken the Stanley Cup to 75 communities from coast to coast.
  
  

Hockey is more than a sport in Canada. It's a part of our history and our culture, particularly at the community level. It's a part of daily life for many of our customers our employees and the communities we serve. By bringing together our various partners in the sport, we've opened up new opportunities for fans of the game.