In celebration of BMO Financial Group’s four-year partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the official bank of the CHL, BMO and the CHL today announced the launch of the BMO Ultimate CHL Fan Appreciation Night events, which will be held in the hometowns of 40 CHL teams.

Between October 23 and December 12, 2012, BMO will celebrate the millions of CHL fans across the country by inviting them to attend their local hockey games dressed up in their team’s colours, jerseys, and costumes for a chance to participate in the BMO Ultimate Fan Contest for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (May 24-26, 2013). In total, 40 BMO Ultimate CHL Fans will be crowned in their respective communities and each league in the CHL (OHL, WHL, and QMJHL) will have one BMO Ultimate Fan who will receive the grand prize.

“The overwhelming endorsement we received from fans of last year’s BMO Ultimate Fan Contest has shown us first hand how important CHL hockey is to local communities across Canada,” said Doug Stotz, Chief Marketing Officer, BMO Financial Group. “We are very excited to be able to build on this success and introduce the BMO Ultimate CHL Fan Appreciation Night to even more fans this year. These celebrations are an amazing opportunity for us to connect with CHL fans, and also give them a chance to attend the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup – one of the largest hockey events in the country.”

“This is the second season of the BMO Ultimate CHL Fan Contest and based on the response from last season this is a great opportunity for fans to show how much passion they have for hockey and their favourite CHL teams,” said CHL President David Branch.  “The CHL is excited to host BMO Ultimate CHL Fan Contests in 40 of our Canadian communities this season, and we look forward to watching our most passionate fans in action as they compete for the opportunity to represent their favourite team at the 95th MasterCard Memorial Cup in Saskatoon.”

Kicking off in Red Deer, Swift Current and Victoria on October 23^rd, the BMO Ultimate CHL Fan Appreciation Nights are centred on the BMO Ultimate Fan contest, which will take place at local games. The contest will be open to all attendees who have purchased a ticket to the game and are over the age of 13. During the first intermission fans will be encouraged to stand up and show their team spirit. Based on their originality, enthusiasm and creativity, three lucky fans will be selected to participate in a trivia contest – specific to their CHL team – which will take place on the players’ bench during the second intermission. The first person to answer three questions correctly will be declared the BMO Ultimate Fan for his/her particular team.

The winner will receive an autographed team jersey with BMO Ultimate Fan crested on the front, a $50 prepaid MasterCard, and gain entry into the grand prize draw for the trip for two to the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Saskatoon in May 2013.

The BMO Ultimate Fan Appreciation Nights and local BMO Ultimate Fan contests will take place in the following locations*:

October

23 –    Swift Current Broncos

            Red Deer Rebels

            Victoria Royals

24 –    Medicine Hat Tigers

25 –    Barrie Colts

            Niagara IceDogs

26 –    Kootenay Ice

            Prince Albert Raiders

            Kingston Frontenacs

            Mississauga Steelheads

27 –    Kamloops Blazers

            London Knights

28 –    Brampton Battalion

November

2 –       Guelph Storm

3 –       Kelowna Rockets

            Lethbridge Hurricanes

            Moose Jaw Warriors

7 –       Regina Pats

9 –       Prince George Cougars

            Saskatoon Blades

            Ottawa 67’s

14 –    Belleville Bulls

15 –    Windsor Spitfires

            Moncton Wildcats

16 –    Sherbrooke Phoenix

            PEI Rocket

            Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

17 –    Peterborough Petes

18 –    Oshawa Generals

            Vancouver Giants

21 –    Shawinigan Cataractes

24 –    Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

            Owen Sound Attack

28 –    Brandon Wheat Kings

            Acadie-Bathurst Titan

30 –    Drummondville Voltigeurs

            Halifax Mooseheads

December

4 –       Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

7 –       Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

12 –    Chicoutimi Sagueneens

*Note: Dates and times subject to change. Check www.BMOUltimateCHLFan.com for the latest updates.

The BMO Ultimate Fan Contest is part of several special fan appreciation initiatives taking place during BMO’s second year as the Official Bank of the CHL. Other CHL events during BMO-focused initiatives will take place during the league’s national marquee events: the MasterCard Memorial Cup, the Subway Super Series and the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. BMO will also incorporate the BMO Power of Blue program – which provides special perks to BMO customers each week at CHL hockey games across Canada, including the opportunity to win a pre-loaded MasterCard – in 46 arenas across Canada that are home to CHL’s member teams.

BMO and the Canadian Hockey League

BMO Financial Group and the Canadian Hockey League announced BMO as the Official Bank of the Canadian Hockey League in 2011. The four-year agreement also designates BMO as the Official Bank of each of the CHL’s member hockey leagues: the Ontario Hockey League, the Western Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The sponsorship builds on BMO’s partnership with the CHL of more than 10 years and affirms BMO’s exclusivity as a financial services sponsor of the league in the retail banking category. It also engrains a presence with the 46 teams who currently participate in the BMO CHL Affinity MasterCard program, which enables CHL fans to support their favourite teams through branded credit cards.

About BMO Financial Group

For more than 195 years, BMO Financial Group has believed in community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility in the communities it serves. In 2011, BMO contributed more than $66 million in donations, sponsorships and events in Canada and the United States to groups, organizations and programs that help build and sustain resilient, vital and healthy communities.

About the Canadian Hockey League

The Canadian Hockey League is the world’s largest development hockey league with 52 Canadian and eight American teams participating in the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League. CHL players graduate from high school at a rate higher than the Canadian national average. Last season, more than nine million fans attended CHL games in the regular season, playoffs and at the MasterCard Memorial Cup. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League than any other league.  Last season 636 graduates attended North American post-secondary institutions on scholarships from CHL teams.