Hockey Manitoba Announces Details for 100th Anniversary Season

Hockey Manitoba is celebrating a year-long 100th birthday and everyone is invited, with the fun kicking off this summer.

The organization has announced for special centennial events and celebrations taking place during the 2014-15 season.  Hockey Manitoba will host numerous special events and promotions throughout the season in acknowledgement of celebrating a rich history of hockey in our province but also leaving a legacy for generations to come in the next 100 years.  Hockey Manitoba is also pleased to announce a significant partnership with Scotiabank to become the Premier Partner of the Hockey Manitoba 100th Anniversary and Official Partner of Hockey Manitoba.   

Bill Whitehead, President of Hockey Manitoba comments "We are truly ecstatic about what we have planned celebrate the 100th Anniversary this season…there's been thousands upon thousands of people who have shaped this game over the years so we're extremely honoured to be the individuals tasked to organize such a historic celebration within our province."

Hockey Manitoba has launched a micro-website as an extension of the organization's primary website dedicated to the 100th Anniversary.  The micro-website, hockeymanitoba.ca/100 will house key event and program information throughout the 2014-15 season along with historic profiles of Hockey Manitoba alumni.  Fun interactive features will also be included within the micro-website such as a historic timeline, myTeam Manitoba, 100th Anniversary Sweepstakes, and special alumni video interviews. 

The first event to begin the season of celebration will be the 100th Anniversary Celebrity Golf Tournament taking place Tuesday, August 12 at Southwood Golf & Country Club.  The day will see 144 golfers participate in a Texas-scramble tournament with celebrities such as Eddie Belfour, Cody Eakin, Mike Keane, Barry Trotz, Travis Zajac and many more great special guests joining the celebration.

Later this fall Hockey Manitoba will host a Minor Hockey Summit bringing together important stakeholders and decision makers within the province.  A core focus on player development and how membership is serviced will headline the agenda throughout the event September 26-27 in Winnipeg.  A special weekend dedicated to female hockey, Project 100, will take place December 12-14 in Winnipeg.  This major event will feature a number of sub-events such as a Hockey Discovery Day, exhibition tournaments, female coaching clinics, Scotiabank Girls HockeyFest, Female Bantam AAA Showcase, and several feature games scheduled within the weekend.

In true traditional fashion the 100th Anniversary will also include the Outdoor Series taking place on various dates beginning in December 2014 until February 2015 with approximately 10 league or feature games hosted outdoors during that span.  The Outdoor Series will culminate on Sunday, February 15 with a province-wide celebration seeing an estimated 50 community locations across Manitoba hosting special outdoor games with commemorative jerseys at various minor hockey levels.

Hockey Manitoba is also excited to give back over $100,000 as we celebrate 100 years as an organization.  All 5 and 6 year-old players throughout Manitoba will receive a free Reebok hockey stick in addition to discounts on other hockey equipment to help get them into the game.  Hockey Manitoba is also providing communities the ability to grow the game locally by awarding $25,000 in Scotiabank Community Hockey Grants.  Launching later this fall, the 100th Anniversary Sweepstakes program will be free to enter for all Manitobans by simply submitting their picks for myTeam Manitoba on the anniversary micro-website.  Over $25,000 in prizes will be distributed to participants including a trip to the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships, a team suite at a Winnipeg Jets game, head-to-toe CCM hockey equipment, weekend getaways, hockey equipment credits, Winnipeg Jets tickets and much more.  Commemorative helmet stickers and patches will also be provided.

Celebrations will come to a close at the 100th Anniversary Gala Dinner hosted May 9, 2015 at Canad Inns - Polo Park in Winnipeg.  An elegant evening featuring the pride of hockey history in Manitoba over 100 years and of the 2014-15 season celebrations will provide a deserving end to this historic milestone.

Scotiabank will be coming on as the season’s Premier Partner to help bring this celebration to the province’s hockey fans. 

“We are proud to be the Premier Partner of Hockey Manitoba’s 100th Anniversary, which is going to be a fantastic celebration of hockey throughout the season,” said Daryl Dunn, Scotiabank Vice President of the Winnipeg District. “At Scotiabank, we understand how much it means to be part of a team. It’s why we are committed to supporting hockey from the professional level to the community level, including over 5,000 minor teams across the country. We are looking forward to teaming up with Hockey Manitoba to offer hockey fans, particularly young hockey fans, a year of great experiences.   

For more information regarding specific details about Hockey Manitoba 100th Anniversary events and programs please visit hockeymanitoba.ca/100.  Hockey Manitoba thanks its Official Partners for their contribution to the development of amateur hockey; Canad Inns, Cargill Ltd., Reebok-CCM Hockey, Royal Sports and Scotiabank.  Hockey Manitoba recognizes the contributions of its Sport Partners; Hockey Canada, Sport Manitoba, Western Hockey League, Manitoba Junior Hockey League, MTS Iceplex, Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club and Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation.  Hockey Manitoba also recognizes key media partners of the Hockey Manitoba 100th Anniversary; TSN 1290 and Winnipeg Free Press.

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.