Sport Chek to Host National Junior Hockey Team Appearance at Kanata Location
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(// Marketwire // - Dec. 12, 2008) - The Forzani Group Ltd. (TSX:FGL), Canada's largest retailer of sporting goods is proud to announce its partnership with Hockey Canada. For years, The Forzani Group's banners have been synonymous with hockey in Canada and now the company is taking its support for Canada's beloved sport a step further, as the Official Sporting Goods Retailer of Hockey Canada. The partnership extends to all The Forzani Group's corporate banners (Sport Chek, Sport Mart, National Sports and Hockey Experts (Ontario only)) and select hockey franchise banners (Hockey Experts and Sports Experts).
As the world comes to the nation's capital this Christmas for the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, Sport Chek and Hockey Canada have teamed up to provide hockey fans a chance to experience it first hand. Five to seven players from Canada's Junior Hockey Team will make a special appearance at the Sport Chek Kanata location (785 Kanata Avenue) in Kanata, ON. The players, names not yet released, will sign autographs for the public on Monday, December 15th, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.
The sponsorship extends to numerous National and International events hosted by Hockey Canada, including the Canadian Hockey Foundation Celebrity Classic, the 2010 World Junior Championship, and future in-store player appearances. The first of several partnership initiatives was the launch of an introductory hockey education and skills guide for parents with kids new to hockey. The Hockey 101 booklet was available for free during the month of August at all Sport Chek, Sport Mart, Hockey Experts and National Sports stores across Canada.
"We are extremely pleased to join together with Hockey Canada to help continue the tradition of Canadian Hockey at a minor hockey and grassroots level," said Christie Cameron, Promotions & Sponsorship Manager for The Forzani Group Ltd. "Our affiliation provides us with a unique opportunity to effectively reach these incredible kids and provide them with ways to enjoy and play hockey through specific product offers, coupons and information about future player appearances. These are very important community initiatives for our corporate banners, as it truly reflects our belief in inspiring young kids to believe in themselves and their dreams."
"The Forzani Group Ltd. has shown its commitment to growing the game through sponsorship of events, tournaments and minor hockey marketing and grass roots programs" comments Bruce Newton, Director of Business Development at Hockey Canada. "We are extremely proud to partner with the sporting goods industry leader."
For all your Team Canada fan wear, visit www.sportchek.ca, www.sportmart.ca, www.nationalsports.com, www.sportexperts.ca and hockeyexperts.ca.
About The Forzani Group Ltd.
The Forzani Group Ltd. is Canada's largest national retailer of sporting goods, offering a comprehensive assortment of brand-name and private-brand products, operating stores from coast to coast, under the following corporate and franchise banners: Sport Chek, Coast Mountain Sports, Sport Mart, National Sports, Athletes World, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, Intersport, Econosports, Atmosphere, Tech Shop, Pegasus, Nevada Bob's Golf, The Fitness Source and S3. The Company also has websites for several of its corporate and franchise banners which can be accessed through its main website at www.forzanigroup.com.
The foregoing information may contain forward-looking statements relating to the future performance of The Forzani Group Ltd. Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerning future performance, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. The Company, in compliance with the reporting requirements of the various securities commissions, details these risks and uncertainties from time to time.
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