December 17, 2008
NR.173

HOCKEY CANADA AND ITS THIRTEEN MEMBER BRANCHES SEND
SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT TO OVER 200,000 MINOR HOCKEY PLAYERS;
WWW.HOCKEYCANADA.CA LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE LOOK, INCLUDING KIDS SECTION

CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada, in partnership with its thirteen member branches, is sending an early Christmas gift to over 200,000 registered minor hockey players in Canada, with the first gifts delivered earlier this week.

Minor hockey players aged between the ages of four and 10 that are registered for minor hockey with Hockey Canada will be receiving a special gift package by mail over the coming seven to 10 days. The players were identified with the support of the 13 Hockey Canada branches and its member minor hockey associations.

This is the second consecutive year that Hockey Canada has connected with its grassroots membership through a mail out. Hockey Canada and the thirteen Hockey Canada branches developed this initiative to communicate with the base of its membership, and remind young minor hockey players that they are an integral part of Hockey Canada, just like the Canadian hockey stars they watch during international competitions, such as the IIHF World Championship, IIHF World Women’s Championship, IIHF World Junior Championship and the Olympics.

The Hockey Canada gift package includes:

- a personalized Hockey Canada activity book
- a Team Canada zipper pull
- a skills DVD
- a Team Canada helmet sticker
- a personalized Hockey Canada Certificate
- special offers from Hockey Canada partners such as Best Buy, Boston Pizza, McDonald’s, Samsung, SportChek and Egg Farmers of Canada
- items from players’ respective provincial or regional branch

For minor hockey players in this age group registered with Hockey Canada who have not received by December 19, please contact kids@hockeycanada.ca, providing the players’ name, his/her club team and the name of the minor hockey association, along with a mailing address, and Hockey Canada will direct the inquiry to the appropriate member branch.

www.Hockeycanada.ca launches new kids section AND NEW WEBSITE LOOK

Hockey Canada also launched a new kids section at www.hockeycanada.ca this week, as a major part of a new and revamped website. The new kids website is accessible to everyone, targeting minor hockey players registered with Hockey Canada.

Hockey Canada kids website, at www.hockeycanada.ca/kids, includes:

- hockey tips
- an interactive online hockey card builder
- interactive games and quizzes
- videos
- Team Canada information
- parent information
- and much more