Canadians can bank on continued exciting hockey programs!

TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2012 /CNW/ - Scotiabank and the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that they are renewing their partnership, which began in 2007. Under the terms of the agreement, Scotiabank will continue in its role as the Official Bank of the NHL.

"We have really enjoyed our work over the past five years with the NHL and have leveraged this partnership as Canada's Hockey Bank to create some great fan experiences for our customers and the communities where we live, work and play," said Anatol von Hahn, Scotiabank Group Head, Canadian Banking.  "On behalf of Scotiabank hockey fans from coast to coast, I am very pleased to be continuing in our role as the Official Bank of the NHL. We look forward to bringing Canadians more new and unique hockey experiences."

Examples of hockey programs that have been have been offered to Canadians over the past five years have included:

• The "Celebration of Hockey" series that has taken the Stanley Cup to more than 75 communities.
• In 2012 alone, The Scotiabank Community Hockey Sponsorship Program, part of the Scotiabank Bright Future philanthropic program that has subsidized hockey for 70,000 youth, ages 7 to 14.
• Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada on CBC that happens once a year, based in one Canadian community with remote locations across the country and hockey played from coast to coast including Canadian NHL teams.

"The NHL is pleased to renew its partnership with Scotiabank," said John Collins, Chief Operating Officer, NHL. "Scotiabank has a long history of supporting hockey on all levels in communities across Canada, and we have been proud to be their partner on very innovative and exciting grassroots hockey experiences over the past five years. These community based hockey programs enrich the lives of NHL fans and hockey enthusiasts from coast to coast."

"In big arenas or on small ponds, hockey is part of the richness of life for so many Canadians, and Scotiabank employees across Canada have really rallied behind our hockey program," said Duncan Hannay, Senior Vice President Marketing, Scotiabank.  "We are proud to renew our partnership with the NHL and look forward to providing many more years of exciting hockey experiences."

In addition to being the Official Bank of NHL, NHLPA, NHL Alumni and the CWHL, Scotiabank 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.

About the National Hockey League
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League's international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other major professional sport. The NHL entertains more than 250 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (NBC Sports Network, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL Radio™, and Sirius XM Radio). Through the NHL Foundation, the League's charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer™ and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is very proud to be Canada's Hockey Bank and is the Official Bank of the NHL®, NHLPA®, NHL Alumni™, CWHL, Winnipeg Jets®, Toronto Maple Leafs®, Calgary Flames® whose home arena is the Scotiabank Saddledome, and the Ottawa Senators® whose home arena is Scotiabank Place. The Bank also has a partnership with the Montreal Canadiens®. Scotiabank has a long tradition of supporting hockey in Canada from local teams and minor hockey associations to professional players and leagues. Across Canadian communities from coast to coast, Scotiabank's Community Hockey Sponsorship Program reaches out to more than 3,700 minor hockey teams and leagues.To find out more about Scotiabank's hockey programs, please visit www.facebook.com/scotiahockeyclub.

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 $45 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.