CALGARY, Alta. – Staying in touch with family and friends has become a lot easier for Canada’s national hockey players, thanks to a partnership with TELUS and Samsung.

Hockey Canada is pleased to announce the TELUS/Samsung Sweet Deals for Athletes program, which sees members of Canada’s National Women’s Team and National Sledge Team receiving Samsung Slyde mobile phones, along with exclusive TELUS mobility plans. A total of 75 phones will be issued to the women’s and sledge teams, allowing players and staff to stay connected during a busy 2009-10 season.

“Our team will be travelling non-stop from August until February, with little down time, so this is a great initiative by TELUS and Samsung that will allow us to stay in touch with family and friends,” says Tessa Bonhomme, a defenceman who is part of the 26-player National Women’s Team centralized roster. “This is one less thing to worry about as we focus on our goal of making the final roster of the National Women’s Team.”

Athletes and staff will receive Samsung Slyde phones, which allow users to easily transform the handset into a QWERTY keyboard. The Slyde also boasts a built-in MP3 player and 2.0 megapixel camera.

“Through our ongoing relationship with Hockey Canada, Samsung Canada is committed to connecting hockey players and fans across the country,” say Benjamin Lee, president, Samsung Electronics Canada. “The Samsung Slyde messaging handset, working on the TELUS national network, is the perfect mobile companion to allow the players and coaches to keep in touch with their friends and family as they compete, both in Canada and internationally.”

“TELUS is proud to support our National Women’s Team and National Sledge Team and we’re happy we can use our technology to help them stay connected with friends and family as they continue to represent our country at the highest level,” says Olympian Steve Podborski, TELUS director of community sports. “As a premier partner of Hockey Canada, the TELUS commitment to the support and development of Canadian athletes is steadfast and we’re delighted to give our athletes a boost in ways that are meaningful and unique.”

Samsung and TELUS are proud supporters of Hockey Canada’s national teams and national events, including the TELUS Cup national midget championship. Representatives from both companies were in Calgary this week in support of a training camp that included Canada’s three national hockey teams (men’s, women’s and sledge).