Local Hockey Team Receives Surprise Training Session Ahead of Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest 2012

CALGARY, Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - The Okotoks Oilers Novice B girls team received an unforgettable surprise today when two-time Olympic gold medalist and former Team Canada Captain Cassie Campbell-Pascall arrived at their practice session.

Following Campbell-Pascall's surprise appearance, the girls were treated to a special skills session and after party where they got to ask questions and get autographs. The Okotoks Oilers Novice B received the visit as the first team to sign up for Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest. Girls HockeyFest will take place on November 4, 2012 at the Calgary Saddledome and more than 350 young female hockey players will receive a day of free skills and life coaching from Olympians Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Sami-Jo Small.

"The girls had absolutely no idea this was happening, it felt great to walk in there and see their faces light up," said Campbell-Pascall. "Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest is all about inspiring young female hockey players and showing them that, with the right training and encouragement, anything is possible. I look forward to seeing these girls again, as well as many more next month."

"Canadian Women's Hockey has been truly inspired by success stories like Cassie Campbell-Pascall's," said Laurie Stang, Scotiabank Senior Vice President for Prairie Region. "As the official bank of the Canadian Women's Hockey League, Scotiabank has a unique opportunity to create programs like Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest, which enable girls and young women to cultivate their talents and abilities. Cassie is a great inspiration to these young women as they strive to live out their dreams on the ice."

Free to participants, Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest in Calgary is open to Novice, Atom, Peewee and Bantam-level players. Throughout the day, players will receive on-ice skills and off-ice life coaching from Olympians Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Sami-Jo Small as well as a tour of the Calgary Saddledome Arena. The day also features a "New to the Game" session. Led by Team Alberta players of the CWHL, the session is designed to teach hockey basics to girls who have never played the game before. To register or learn more about the event, please visit www.scotiabankgirlshockeyfest.com.

About Cassie Campbell-Pascall

Cassie Campbell-Pascall was the captain of the Canadian women's hockey team during the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics and is the only captain, male or female, to lead Canada to two gold medals. The first woman to do colour commentary on Hockey Night in Canada, Campbell-Pascall currently works as a TV analyst for TSN's women's hockey coverage and for CBC's Hockey Night in Canada and acts as special advisor on Scotiabank hockey programs.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is the Official Bank of the NHL®, 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.

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Image with caption: "The Okotoks Oilers Novice B girls hockey players receive autographs from Cassie Campbell-Pascall, two-time Olympic Gold medalist with the Canadian Women's Hockey team. Campbell surprised the Oilers at their practice session as the first team to register for this year's Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest - taking place on November 4th, 2012 at the Calgary Saddledome. (CNW Group/Scotiabank)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121023_C9643_PHOTO_EN_19681.jpg

Image with caption: "Cassie Campbell-Pascall, two-time Olympic Gold medalist with the Canadian Women's Hockey team, surprises the Okotoks Oilers Novice B girls hockey team at today's practice session. The Okotoks Oilers Novice Bs were treated to the surprise as the first team to register for this year's Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest - taking place on November 4th, 2012 at the Calgary Saddledome. (CNW Group/Scotiabank)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121023_C9643_PHOTO_EN_19682.jpg

SOURCE: Scotiabank