HOCKEY CALGARY AND CALGARY SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
KICK OFF THE SEASON WITH NOVICE INITIATIVE
For Immediate Release
September 25, 2015
CALGARY, AB – Hockey Calgary and the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) are proud to announce a joint initiative for the novice age group in Calgary. Through the Calgary Flames Foundation, CSEC will donate $95,000 to Hockey Calgary. This donation will provide each novice team with away association jerseys and socks.
Each year, the Calgary Hitmen also host 2,200 novice kids and 400 officials to celebrate novice development and officials’ appreciation. This year’s event will be on November 27th.
Novice teams will have the opportunity to sell the Flames “The Home Team” book to raise funds for their teams. Last fall, a book about the Calgary Flames and its fans titled “The Home Team” was released. This book details the adventures of three boys who after watching a Flames practice, fell in love with their local hockey team. All 130 Novice teams in Calgary will have the opportunity to sell the books for $15.00. Each novice team earns $8.00 per book and an additional $1.00 from each sale goes to the Flames EvenStrength program. All unsold inventory can be returned at no expense to the team.
“We believe the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, through the Calgary Flames Foundation, has a commitment to grassroots and amateur sports – especially hockey,” said Ken King, President and CEO of the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation. “When we partner on projects like the Flames EvenStrength program and rink renovations, we do so with the intent of making hockey more accessible in Calgary and surrounding areas. This is another initiative we are looking forward to being a part of in hopes of assisting our minor hockey community.”
Hockey Calgary, KidSport Calgary and the Calgary Flames Foundation want to remind families, and the minor hockey community, that funding for registration fees is available through the Flames EvenStrength program. The Flames EvenStrength program distributes financial aid for registration fees and equipment through KidSport and the Bill Comrie Equipment Bank to families in need. Since the inception of the program over $1.2 million has been distributed to over 3,800 kids in hockey.
When the ownership group brought the Flames to Calgary in 1980 their mandate, which is still prominent today, was to ensure that the Calgary Flames have a positive impact on the quality of life in southern Alberta. Since its inception the Foundation, with the support of partners and donors, has raised millions for education, health and wellness, and amateur and grassroots sports. Last season the Flames Foundation for Life distributed over $2.6 million in support of these three key areas.
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For information contact:
Peter Hanlon Lisa Rosengarten
Vice President, Communications Manager, Communications, Marketing and Events
Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation Hockey Calgary
(403) 777-3684 (403) 245-5773
phanlon@calgaryflames.com lisa.rosengarten@hockeycalgary.com