Canadian Women's Hockey Greats Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Sami Jo Small to coach over 200 future hockey stars

OTTAWA, March 19, 2013 /CNW/ - Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former Captain of Canada's National Women's Hockey Team Cassie Campbell-Pascall and two-time Olympic gold medalist Sami Jo Small are teaming up to coach young female athletes at Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest Ottawa. The two hockey greats will coach over 200 minor hockey players, teaching them valuable ice and life skills during the event which takes place on Sunday, March 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

"With our partners at the Ottawa Senators, we're excited to bring Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest back to Ottawa, where it all started nine years ago," said Steffanie Eckford, Scotiabank Kanata Branch Manager. "The event has grown over the years, with more participants taking part in cities across Canada, but at its heart the event remains the same, a unique environment for young athletes to come together as a community and learn valuable skills from strong role models. We look forward to the young future hockey stars having an unforgettable day."

Offered to girls from novice, atom and peewee levels, the all-day event is comprised of on and off-ice training, a tour of Scotiabank Place, and keynote addresses from both coaches on the hard work, dedication and determination that helped them reach their goals. The Olympians will receive help from athletes from the Carleton University and University of Ottawa hockey teams.

"There is something special about being surrounded by people who love your sport as much as you do," said Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Scotiabank Hockey Ambassador. "Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest offers young female athletes the chance to learn about and celebrate hockey, skating on the ice that the Ottawa Senators call home. And as a coach, this event means a lot to me as I get to both help the girls improve their game and give them the chance to learn life skills that I hope they'll carry throughout their lives both on and off the ice."

The new season for Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest included events in Winnipeg, Brandon and St. John's, as well as Calgary in the fall of 2012. Toronto will have a chance to host the event later this spring. To learn more about the event please visit www.scotiabankgirlshockeyfest.com.

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 two gold medal winning hockey teams. She is also the first woman to provide colour commentary for CBC's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. Campbell-Pascall is a Scotiabank Hockey Ambassador.

Sami Jo Small, a powerful 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

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 4,500 minor hockey teams. 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, Scotiabank Bright Future.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $47 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

SOURCE: Scotiabank - Sponsorships & Donations