|  |
Esso proud to sponsor World Cup of Hockey 2004 - Eight top hockey nations in the world to compete
| Toronto, ON, August 24, 2004
| For almost 70 years, the Esso brand has been synonymous with hockey in Canada and in 2004, the company is taking its support for this nation's sport a step further with its sponsorship of the World Cup of Hockey.
From August 30 through to September 14, 2004, eight of the top hockey nations in the world will compete in Europe and North America in the World Cup of Hockey 2004. The event is a joint effort of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL), in cooperation with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
The North American pool consists of Canada, Russia, Slovakia and United States. The Czech Republic, Finland, Germany and Sweden will compete in the European pool. Games in Canada will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal and the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Exhibition games will also take place at the Corel Centre in Ottawa.
"We are very excited to be a part of this world-class hockey event," said Simon Smith, vice-president of fuels marketing for Imperial Oil. "This is an opportunity to see the world's best hockey players in international competition and we're delighted to continue our hockey tradition by supporting such a high-calibre event."
Hockey fans across Canada have a chance to win one of two trips for six to the final game of the World Cup of Hockey on September 14, 2004 in Toronto. Fans can simply fill up at their local Esso station before August 29th and use their Esso Extra card or Esso Speedpass for a chance to win. The prize package includes return airfare and hotel accommodations for six, six tickets to the final game, $1,000 in spending money and the opportunity to meet Wayne Gretzky, Executive Director of Team Canada. The contest draw will take place on September 3, 2004. For more details, visit www.essoextra.ca.
Esso has been closely linked to Canada's national sport since the 1930s, when it began sponsoring Foster Hewitt's radio broadcasts of Hockey Night in Canada. Since then, Esso has been involved in hockey from the grassroots level to the pros, touching Canadians from coast to coast. To find out more about Esso's support of hockey, click here.
|
| |  |
|
