TORONTO, April 17, 2018 /CNW/ - On Sunday, April 22, 300 female hockey players aged 7-14 will hit the ice with Canadian hockey legend Cassie Campbell-Pascall for the seventh annual Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest in Toronto, at the MasterCard Centre.

Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest is a free, on and off-ice training series designed to empower young girls across Canada, with a passion for hockey, to dream big and reach their infinite potential.The event has provided aspiring female minor hockey players across Canada with positive experiences through the game of hockey since 2005. Last year, Scotiabank reached the important milestone of supporting one million kids and counting, through its commitment to kids' community hockey across Canada.

"Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest is a fantastic opportunity for young female hockey players to celebrate our nation's favourite game," said Cassie Campbell-Pascall. "Through this event, these young athletes will improve their skills, build their confidence, and learn how to work together as a team. I'm incredibly proud to be a part of this event because I know from my own experience how valuable it is to receive support from the hockey community. It's my pleasure to give back through the Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest to these young girls who share my passion for the game."

This season, Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest was available to young female hockey players at no cost in four communities across Canada – Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Toronto, the program's final stop. Along with providing young girls with access to some of Canada's most influential female hockey stars, the program includes on and off-ice training, and a nutrition session explaining the importance of healthy eating.

"We are excited to present Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest in Toronto, encouraging young athletes to reach their infinite potential through teamwork, on-ice drills and inspiration from their hockey heroes," said Rachel Donoghue, District Vice-President, GTA Mississauga Region, Scotiabank. "This event will allow us to share our passion for the sport and to inspire a new generation of players to achieve their hockey dreams. Young people are our future leaders and Scotiabank's goal is to help ensure that they have the necessary skills and resources they need to support their success."

Scotiabank has a long tradition of supporting Canadian hockey at all levels – from community teams and minor hockey associations to professional players and leagues. At Scotiabank, investing in our communities has been a focus for over 185 years. We believe investing in young people is the pathway to community prosperity.

To learn more about the event and Scotiabank's commitment to kids' community hockey, visit www.scotiabankgirlshockeyfest.com.

About Scotiabank Hockey

Scotiabank is the Official Bank of the NHL^®, NHL Alumni^™, CWHL, Vancouver Canucks®, Winnipeg Jets®, Toronto Maple Leafs^®, Ottawa Senators^®, Edmonton Oilers^® and the Calgary Flames®, whose home arena is the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Bank also supports the Montreal Canadiens®. Scotiabank's Community Hockey Sponsorship Program has supported over million kids through its involvement with minor hockey teams in communities across Canada. To find out more about Scotiabank's hockey programs, please visit www.scotiabank.com/the5thseason.

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SOURCE Scotiabank