(TORONTO, Ontario – November 25, 2015) The Hockey Development Centre for Ontario, in partnership with its member associations and program sponsors, is pleased to announce the official launch of the 2016 Penalty Free Sweepstakes contest. The Sweepstakes is a provincial safety initiative created to promote fair play, skills, safety and sportsmanship in amateur hockey throughout Ontario.
The Penalty Free Sweepstakes encourages and rewards amateur hockey teams for staying out of the penalty box and has produced a positive response from all ages and levels of amateur hockey in Ontario. Statistics indicate that teams who have entered the contest have either won or tied their games, demonstrating that fair play and good sportsmanship is not only rewarding but can substantially increase the chance of being successful on the ice.
To further promote the Sweepstakes, the 2016 Penalty Free Most Valuable Player Award will be held in conjunction with the Sweepstakes prize draw. The MVP Award will recognize ten individual players who embody the values of the Penalty Free Sweepstakes – skills, safety and sportsmanship.
A total of 17 sponsorship partners will be supporting this year’s initiative by contributing valuable prizes to amateur hockey teams in Ontario that play a penalty free game during the contest period.
The Penalty Free Sweepstakes is supported by former NHL and Team Canada member Paul Henderson, Ron
MacLean Canadian sportscaster for the CBC and Host of Rogers Hometown Hockey and former Women’s
National/Olympic team member and Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame Geraldine Heaney.
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For more information, please contact:
The Hockey Development Centre for Ontario
416-426-7252, toll free 1-888-843-4326 or email
[email protected]
How does a team qualify?
Any amateur hockey team in Ontario can qualify by playing a penalty-free game within the province of Ontario during the contest period (December 5, 2015 to January 31, 2016). If one team plays an entire penalty free game, that team qualifies. If both teams play penalty free then both teams qualify. All games must be refereed by qualified officials and the game sheet must be signed by at least one of the officials. All entries are subject to verification by the Penalty Free Sweepstakes Committee. A team may submit an
entry for
every penalty free game they play during the contest period. All league, exhibition, tournament and playoff games played penalty free during the contest period may qualify. Inter-squad and novelty games do not qualify.
OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM for the 2016 Penalty Free Sweepstakes is available at www.hdco.on.ca
How are the winning teams chosen?
Sweepstakes winners will be drawn at random from the eligible entries received. The draw will be conducted on Friday February 5, 2016 at the Hockey Development Centre for Ontario (HDCO) office. Winning teams will be notified by phone within fourteen days of the draw.
How does a team enter?
To enter, simply complete an Official Entry form and send it, along with a copy of the game sheet signed by a qualified official, to the HDCO office. Entry forms can be downloaded from the HDCO Web site at
www.hdco.on.ca or by contacting the HDCO office. Eligible entries must be received by 4:00 pm Monday February 1, 2016 to be eligible for the prize draw.
What is the Penalty Free” Most Valuable Player” Award?
As an added incentive and to further promote the Sweepstakes, the 2016 Penalty Free MVP Award will be held in conjunction with the Sweepstakes program. Coaches will have the opportunity to nominate one player from their team who embody the values of the Penalty Free Sweepstakes.
Ten winners will be randomly drawn on February 5, 2016. Each winner will receive a McDonald’s® Mac-a- Month Card, a family pass to the Hockey Hall of Fame and a special trophy.
Coaches can nominate
one player from their team by filling out the MVP Award nomination ballot and submitting it to the HDCO office. Ballots can be downloaded from the HDCO web site. Ballots must be received by 4:00 pm Monday February 1, 2016 (only one nomination per team is eligible).
Play to Win…Play Penalty Free!