Play it KEWL...Play penalty free hockey for a chance to win over $125,000 in exciting team prizes
2007 KEWL Penalty Free Sweepstakes rewards amateur hockey players for staying out of the penalty box

(Toronto, ON) The Hockey Development Centre for Ontario, in partnership with KEWL Threads title sponsor of this year's program, are pleased to announce the return of the annual Penalty Free Sweepstakes Contest. The program, now in its twentieth year, was developed to encourage fair play, skills, safety and sportsmanship in amateur hockey throughout the province of Ontario.

The 2007 KEWL Penalty Free Sweepstakes encourages and rewards amateur hockey teams for staying out of the penalty box. A total of 21 sponsorship partners will be involved in this year's program with over $125,000 in exciting team prizes available to amateur hockey teams in Ontario that play a penalty free game during the contest period.

The KEWL Penalty Free Sweepstakes is supported by former NHL and Team Canada member Paul Henderson, Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean and former Women's National and Olympic team member Geraldine Heaney.

Since its inception, 62 per cent of the more than 111,308 entries received have either won or tied their penalty free game - a statistic that demonstrates the importance of staying out of the penalty box. As an added incentive, the program also features a Penalty Free MVP Award that recognizes individual players who exemplify the values of the KEWL Penalty Free Sweepstakes - skills, safety and sportsmanship.

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 1, 2006 - January 31,2007). 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 KEWL 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 play off games played penalty free during the contest period may qualify. Intersquad and novelty games do not qualify. 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 9, 2007 at the offices of the Hockey Development Centre for Ontario (HDCO). Winning teams will be notified within fourteen days of the draw if the team has won a sweepstakes prize through their team contract.

How does a team enter?

Entry forms can be downloaded from the HDCO website at www.hdco.on.ca and are also available at Pizza Pizza outlets and at the HDCO office.

What are the MVP Awards?

To further promote then ideals of the Sweepstakes program, KEWL Threads and the Hockey Development Centre for Ontario are asking coaches to nominate their team's KEWL Penalty Free MVP.

Each team's nominee should embody the values of the KEWL Penalty Free Sweepstakes - skills, safety and sportsmanship - and have a low number of penalty minutes this season.

Ten winners will be randomly drawn on February 9, 2007 and contacted by phone. Winners will receive a McDonald's Great Taste Card, a family pass to the Hockey Hall of Fame and a special trophy.

Coaches can enter one player from their team by filling out the nomination form on the HDCO website.

The 2007 KEWL Penalty Free Sweepstakes is supported by the Ministry of Health Promotion and the Title Sponsor is KEWL Threads. The following are the prize sponsors for the 2007 KEWL Penalty Free Sweepstakes; Brampton Battalion of

the OHL, Hitz Sportswear, Hockey Hall of Fame, Kobe Sportswear, Laser Quest, McDonalds Restaurants of Canada, NHL Players Association, Ontario Minor Hockey Association, Oshawa Generals of the OHL, Pizza Pizza, Playdium, RYR Sports Inc., Sudbury Wolvers of the OHL, The Hockey News, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies of the AHL, Viceroy Rubber and Plastics, Wayne Gretzky's Toronto, Windsor Spitfires of the OHL

Official entry forms for the 2007 KEWL Penalty Free Sweepstakes are available at www.hdco.on.ca and Pizza Pizza outlets throughout Ontario.

For more information, contact The Hockey Development Centre for Ontario, (416) 426-7252; toll free at 1-888-843-4326.