TORONTO, ON - May 05, 2014 /CNW - Bringing together more than 500 hockey fans and 44 NHL greats, the 9^th annual Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am was an incredible success, seeing the overall tournament fundraising total climb to $25 million in just nine short years. Kicking off with an exciting Draft Night Party on May 1, the 2014 tournament saw hockey greats Darryl Sittler, Denis Savard, Joe Nieuwendyk, Curtis Joseph and Wendel Clark chosen as some of the top team picks, and legends Johnny Bower,Walter Gretzky and Gordie Howe gracing the hallways of the tournament's new home, Buckingham Arena.

"Expectations were high going into this year's tournament and we are thrilled that they have been exceeded," said Garry Foster, Baycrest Foundation President and CEO. "Aside from the number of teams that participated and the enthusiastic NHL alumni on hand, this year's tournament has helped Baycrest reach its fundraising goal, which is the reason why we are all here."

Over the course of the weekend, Buckingham Arena hosted more than 45 hockey games, including two featuring a team of alumni going head-to-head against the top team and individual fundraisers in the tournament. Three "Train with a Pro" clinics were also held, allowing participants to learn from some of the best forwards, defensemen and goaltenders in NHL and professional hockey history. The 2014 Pro-Am also launched the inaugural Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am Family Skate, giving those not registered in the tournament a chance to skate alongside participating alumni.

"We are so proud to support such an inspiring event that gives hockey fans an unforgettable weekend of playing against hockey legends, while raising money for an important cause," said Claude Norfolk, Scotiabank Senior Vice President of the Toronto Region. "I want to thank everyone who dedicated their time and talents to making this year's tournament a success."

Next year's Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am will take place in May 2015 in Toronto. Those interested in participating can officially register their team and learn more about the tournament at www.scotiabankproam.com.

About the Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am
Established in 2006, the Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am is an innovative charitable hockey tournament that is part of Baycrest Foundation's mission to support Baycrest Health Sciences, a global leader in care, education, innovation and research related to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, brain health and aging. The three-day hockey experience allows amateur hockey players the opportunity to play with and against a host of NHL alumni. To date, the Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am has raised more than $25 million. Follow the excitement on Twitter at @ScotiabankProAm (#Stickit2Alz) and on Facebook at facebook.com/ScotiabankProAm or visit scotiabankproam.com to register.

About Baycrest
Headquartered on a 22-acre campus and fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, Baycrest is unique in the world, combining a comprehensive system of care for aging adults, one of the world's top research institutes in cognitive neuroscience (the Rotman Research Institute), dedicated centres focused on mitigating the impact of age-related illness and impairment, and unmatched global knowledge exchange and commercialization capacity.

Baycrest was recently ranked by Accreditation Canada as among the top five per cent of healthcare organizations in Canada for delivering excellence in care, patient safety and corporate operations. For more information, visit baycrest.org.

About Scotiabank
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 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 coast to coast, Scotiabank's Community Hockey Sponsorship Program reaches out to over 5,000 minor hockey teams. To find out more about Scotiabank's hockey programs, please visit www.facebook.com/scotiahockeyclub.

Scotiabank is a leading financial services provider in over 55 countries and Canada's most international bank. Through Bright Future, our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level across six pillars: health, education, social services, arts and culture, environment and sports. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has contributed on average some $50 million annually over the last five years to community causes around the world. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

www.ScotiabankProAm.com

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