News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 12, 2011) - In celebration of BMO Financial Group's new four-year partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the official bank of the CHL, BMO and the CHL today announced the beginning of a Canada-wide community celebration in the hometowns of 41 CHL teams.

Between December and February, 2012, BMO will offer an opportunity for fans in CHL cities to meet their favourite players and enter the BMO Ultimate Fan contest for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Shawinigan, Quebec. Each league in the CHL, namely the Ontario Hockey League, the Western Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, will have one BMO Ultimate Fan who will receive this grand prize.

"We are very excited to embark on this 41-city celebration within CHL hockey communities across Canada," said Sandy Bourne, Vice-President, Sponsorships, BMO Financial Group. "These celebrations are an amazing opportunity for us to connect with CHL fans, and also give them a chance to attend the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup, one of the largest hockey events in the country."

Kicking off in Windsor, Ontario, on December 14^th, the community celebrations are centred on the BMO Ultimate Fan contest. As part of the contest, up to 100 participants can register onsite, and three will be chosen by a panel of judges, based on who dons the best "Ultimate Fan" costume in support of their local team. The chosen participants will be given the chance to play a trivia game, with only one winning the BMO Ultimate Fan title. Each community will have its own local BMO Ultimate Fan who will be entered into a random draw within their respective leagues (Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, or Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) to win a trip to the Memorial Cup in Shawinigan, Quebec, in May 2012.

"The BMO Ultimate CHL Fan Contest is a great opportunity for Canadian Hockey League fans to support their favourite teams and show their passion for our great game," said CHL President David Branch. "We look forward to seeing the BMO Ultimate CHL Fans in Shawinigan this May during the 94^th edition of our prestigious national championship the MasterCard Memorial Cup."

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

December
14 - Windsor Spitfires
	Devonshire Mall branch, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

January
5 - Kootenay Ice (BC)
	Cranbrook, 934 Baker St., 5 - 7 p.m.
10 - Guelph Storm (ON)
	St. George's Square/main office, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
11 - Vancouver Giants (BC)
	Yaletown, 1004 Hamilton St., 5 - 7 p.m.
12 - Moose Jaw Warriors (SK)
	Moose Jaw main office, 39 Manitoba St. E, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
12 - Prince George Cougars (BC)
	1445 West Central St., 5 - 7 p.m.
15 - Ottawa 67's (ON)
	Barrhaven Town Centre branch, 3775A Strandherd Dr, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
16 - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (ON)
	Square One Shopping Centre branch, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
17 - Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QC)
	321 Boul. Lasalle, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
17 - Drummondville Voltigeurs (QC)
	1001 Boul. St-Joseph, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
17 - Prince Albert Raiders (SK)
	Prince Albert main office, 500, 801 - 15th St. E, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
17 - Acadie Bathurst Titan (NB)
	Bathurst main branch, 201 Main St., 5 - 7:30 p.m.
17 - Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (NS)
	Sydney main office, 173 Charlotte St., 5 - 7:30 p.m.
17 - Victoriaville Tigres (QC)
	51 Rue Notre-Dame E, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
18 - Shawinigan Cataractes (QC)
	Centre Bionest, 1200 rue de Cèdres, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
18 - Peterborough Petes (ON)
	Peterborough main office, 130 Simcoe St., 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
18 - Chicoutimi Saugueneens (QC)
	Place du Saguenay, 1324 Boul. Talbot, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
18 - Halifax Mooseheads (NS)
	Halifax main office, 5151 George St., 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
18 - Swift Current Broncos (SK)
	213 Central Ave. N, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
23 - Kamloops Blazers (BC)
	Kamloops main office, 101F-1180 Columbia St. W, 5 - 7 p.m.
24 - Owen Sound Attack (ON)
	Owen Sound main office, 899 Second Ave. E, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
24 - Medicine Hat Tigers (AB)
	Medicine Hat main office, 606 2nd St. SE, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
25 - Oshawa Generals (ON)
	Oshawa Centre, 419 King St. West, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
25 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (ON)
	Cambrian Mall branch, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
25 - Victoria Royals (BC)
	Victoria main office, 1225 Douglas St., 5 - 7 p.m.
25 - Regina Pats (SK)
	Regina main office, 1800 Scarth St., 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
25 - Saskatoon Blades (SK)
	Lawson Heights Mall, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
30 - Saint John Sea Dogs (NB)
	Loch Lomond Branch, 120 McDonald St., 5 - 7:30 p.m.
31 - Niagara Ice Dogs (ON)
	St. Catharines main office, 31 King St., 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
31 - Lethbridge Hurricanes (AB)
	Lethbridge main office, 606 4th Avenue South, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

February
7 - Belleville Bulls (ON)
	Belleville main office, 201 Front St., 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
8 - Brampton Battallion (ON)
	Shopper's World branch, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
8 - Barrie Colts (ON)
	Georgian Mall branch, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
8 - Kingston Frontenacs (ON)
	Cataraqui Town Centre branch, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
8 - PEI Rocket (PEI)
	Charlottetown main office, 105 Grafton St., 5 - 7:30 p.m.
11 - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QC)
	Arena Dave Keon, 218 Avenue Murdoch, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
13 - Red Deer Rebels (AB)
	Red Deer main office, 4903 Gaetz Ave., 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
15 - Blainville Boisbriand (QC)
	280 De La Seigneurie Ouest, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
16 - Kelowna Rockets (BC)
	Kelowna main office, 294 Bernard Ave, 5 - 7 p.m.
21 - Brandon Wheat Kings (MB)
	Brandon main office, 1000 Rosser Ave, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
22 - Moncton Wildcats (NB)
	Moncton main office, 633 Main St., 5 - 7:30 p.m.

*Note: Dates and times subject to change. Check Facebook.com/BMOcommunity for the latest updates.

The BMO Ultimate Fan Contest is part of several special events taking place during BMO's first year as the Official Bank of the CHL. Other special events will focus on the league's national marquee events - the MasterCard Memorial Cup, the Subway Super Series and the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Under the sponsorship agreement, BMO will also incorporate the BMO Power of Blue program - which provides special perks to BMO customers, 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 recently announced BMO as the Official Bank of the Canadian Hockey League. The new 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 193 years, BMO Financial Group has believed in community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility in the communities it serves. In 2010, BMO contributed more than $54 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 51 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.