News Releases

VAUGHAN, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 18, 2011) -

Attention: Lifestyle and Sports Editors

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

BMO Financial Group announced today that the Vaughan Battlecats U11 boys team has been the latest BMO Team of the Week winner. The team is now eligible to be the BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion and win $125,000 to upgrade their local soccer field.

"Congratulations to our newest BMO Team of the Week winner. The Vaughan Battlecats are all-around champions. These talented boys won an impressive number of matches in the last four years leading to divisional and tournament championships," said Curtis Scragg, District Vice-President, GTA North, BMO Bank of Montreal. "They also think of others through their constant encouragement of other teams and with support for children in need."

The Vaughan Battlecats are engaged both in sport and the community. Instead of exchanging gifts, they help other children at Christmas time by donating presents to the CHUM Toy Drive. They also share their passion for the game with children in need in other parts of the world.

"The philosophy of the Battlecats is not measured by how many goals or wins they have achieved; it is measured by the road that is taken to get there," said Tony Spadafora, team coach for the Vaughan Battlecats. "When the team heard about an opportunity to send soccer balls to a village in Ghana, they were so happy to help out. Their faces lit up when we saw the pictures of the kids in the village, some of them the same age as our boys, surrounded by the soccer gear we sent. The greatest thing is that, through all the successes and accomplishments as a team, these boys always show true sportsmanship and humility."

The Vaughan Battlecats are the fifth of 15 youth soccer teams (age 7-12) across Canada that will be selected between April 1 and June 30 as weekly BMO Team of the Week winners based on team pride, spirit, community commitment and passion for the game. The winners will then vie for the title of BMO Team of the Week 2011 Champion, to be selected by the Canadian public through online voting as of August 1.

The Vaughan Battlecats' team profile can be viewed at www.BMOsoccer.com.

BMO Team of the Week Game Plan

From April 1 to June 30, Canadian soccer coaches and parents can nominate their favourite soccer team by logging on to www.BMOsoccer.com.

A panel of judges will select a weekly winner and each BMO Team of the Week will receive $500, track suits and a gift to a charity of their choice.

Canadians can vote for their favourite BMO Team of the Week beginning in August. The Champion will receive $125,000 toward a field refurbishment, a trip to see a Toronto FC or Vancouver Whitecaps FC home game, and $5,000 to a charity of their choice.

About BMO and Soccer

BMO supports soccer across Canada, from youth players in local neighbourhoods and communities, to the professional level. Our deep commitment to "The Beautiful Game" is evident with our grassroots sponsorship of more than 900 youth teams nationally. The relationship continues with support of Canada's men's and women's national teams, professional teams (Toronto FC & Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and our soccer venue title sponsorship (BMO Field).

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20110517-battlecatslarge.jpg