Canadian Women's Hockey Elites and Olympic Gold Medalists Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Sami Jo Small to coach aspiring young athletes

CALGARY, Oct. 28, 2011 /CNW/ - Olympic gold medalists Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Sami Jo Small are teaming up to coach 300 minor girls hockey players, ages 7-14, at the annual Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest Calgary at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday November 6^th for two half-day sessions from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

"As Canada's Hockey Bank, Scotiabank is proud to offer Girls HockeyFest to support these wonderful young female players who will be the future of the sport," said Janice Church, Scotiabank District Vice-President, Calgary. "It's an honour to see the enthusiasm of the girls at this event as they learn from two remarkably talented Canadian athletes and exceptional on- and off-ice role models."

Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest offers novice, atom, peewee, and bantam-level players the opportunity to learn both on-ice game skills and off-ice life skills under the guidance of elite female hockey players. The event also includes a backstage tour of the Scotiabank Saddledome, a chance for the girls to test out the newest hockey sticks from Pro Hockey Life, and speeches from the coaches on how they turned their dreams into reality. To learn more, please visit www.scotiabankgirlshockeyfest.com.

"Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest is a unique day where young athletes come together as a community to learn about and celebrate hockey," said Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Scotiabank Hockey Ambassador. "We are going to have a great day, where the girls can gain skills that they will hopefully carry with them throughout their lives."

"The Calgary Flames are excited to once again open the doors at the Scotiabank Saddledome for Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest Calgary," said Ken King, CEO and President of the Calgary Flames, Calgary Flames. "We know how key great training is for success in the world of hockey and we're happy to host this inspiring program and these energetic and talented young Calgary hockey players."

About the coaches
Cassie Campbell-Pascall, one of the most successful and recognized players in women's hockey, holds 21 medals from Olympic, international and national championships - 17 of them gold.  She is a former Captain of the Canadian National Women's Hockey Team and she is the only player to captain 2 gold medal winning hockey teams. She is also the first woman to provide colour commentary for CBC's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.  Mrs. Campbell-Pascall is a Scotiabank Hockey Ambassador.

Sami Jo Small, a tremendous force in women's hockey, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, five-time World Champion and two-time World Champion MVP. She co-founded the Canadian Women's Hockey League and is a proud member of the Toronto team in the CWHL.

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.  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, 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.