Eh! O' Canada Go! Canadian Fans Ready to Take to the Ice With New Official Hockey Cheer
SUMMERSIDE, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, Nov 08 (MARKET WIRE)
--
Even before the start of the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship,
Canadian hockey fans have reason to celebrate. Beginning today, fans now
have an official hockey cheer that will unite their collective spirit,
enthusiasm and support for their national teams. Recognizing the lack of
a unified hockey cheer, Pepsi began the movement to unify the voices of
Hockey Canada's fans, beginning with a competition to develop an official
cheer.
After months of anticipation and over a thousand submissions from across
Canada, the winning cheer, 'Eh! O' Canada Go!' was finally unveiled this
past weekend at the World Junior A Challenge in Summerside, P.E.I.
Building on the movement's growing momentum and the excitement of having
a unifying hockey cheer, Pepsi is now also offering the first million
hockey fans that join 'Cheer Nation' in support of the cheer, a once-in-a
lifetime opportunity to have their name included in a display in the
Hockey Hall of Fame alongside legendary memorabilia that captures some of
the game's greatest moments. Fans can register to join 'Cheer Nation' for
their chance to appear in the Hockey Hall of Fame at www.pepsi.ca.
"As long-time supporters of Hockey Canada, Pepsi wanted to give Canadians
a unified voice that encompassed their passion for Canada's hockey
teams," said Dale Hooper, Vice President of Marketing for PepsiCo
Beverages Canada. "It was equally important to us to acknowledge all the
fans who will join 'Cheer Nation' and give them a truly exclusive
opportunity - to have their name in the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside
some of the sport's greatest legends."
High school teacher pens Hockey Canada's new official cheer
The unveiling of the new national hockey cheer, written by high school
teacher and die-hard fan, Joan Wheaton Buma of Grimsby, Ontario, occurred
during the World Junior A Challenge in Summerside, P.E.I. Buma took top
spot with her cheer, "Eh! O' Canada Go!", beating out over a thousand
submissions from across Canada for the Pepsi-sponsored competition. The
high school teacher took almost half of the votes to secure victory - and
a place in Hockey Canada history. Buma was on hand at the World Junior A
Challenge to lead the fans with the new official cheer. Joining Buma to
help lead the fans was Pepsi ambassador and professional sports fan
Cameron Hughes.
"My goal was never to win - I just wanted to share my cheer with others
who like me, are passionate about Canada and our national sport," said
Buma. "Thanks to Pepsi I am living every hockey fan's dream. I am so
grateful to those who voted for my cheer and in particular, the staff and
students of Smithville Christian High School, who have been behind me
every step of the way."
Buma's whirlwind hockey adventures at the World Junior A Challenge in
Summerside P.E.I. will be repeated again in December when she and a guest
will watch Hockey Canada's National Junior team play for its
sixth-consecutive first-place finish at the 2010 IIHF World Junior
Championship in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan. Also part of her
first-place finish, she will travel to Germany to attend the 2010 IIHF
World Championship.
"Joan's cheer had all the elements we were looking for - it had the
potential to engage a crowd, was energetic, fun, original and above all,
patriotic," said Cameron Hughes, Pepsi ambassador and official fan for
several professional sports teams. "I know from all my years supporting
teams that this is going to be a cheer crowds will love to use and will
give our teams the encouragement they need to defend Canada's top spot in
world hockey competitions."
Pepsi's movement to unify Canadian hockey fans
Pepsi and Hockey Canada launched a movement in September to help unify
the voices, hearts and spirits of Canadian hockey fans. Fans were asked
to upload their videos, picture plus audio clips or texts and photos of
what they thought Hockey Canada's national cheer should be. After over
1,100 submissions, the top three were selected by an independent judging
panel, and Canadians had from October 19th to November 1st to vote for
the winning cheer.
"The enormous response to this competition and Joan's victory further
proves that hockey is a sport that touches all types of people from coast
to coast," said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO, Hockey Canada. "We at
Hockey Canada extend our sincere congratulations to Joan Buma and look
forward to hearing fans shout her new cheer in unison to support their
national teams, wherever Team Canada plays."
For more information on the movement to create a national hockey cheer,
the opportunity for the first one million fans to become part of the
Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Cheer Nation program, or for
additional details regarding the next phase of the Join the Cheer
contest, please visit www.pepsi.ca.
About PepsiCo(R) Canada
PepsiCo's businesses in Canada are organized into two business units.
PepsiCo Foods Canada (PFC), includes Frito Lay Canada and the Quaker
Foods & Snacks business. PepsiCo Beverages Canada (PBC), includes
Pepsi-Cola Canada, Gatorade and Tropicana. In total, PBC markets a
variety of beverages under the following trade-marks: PEPSI, DIET PEPSI,
7UP, MOUNTAIN DEW, MUG, AQUAFINA, SOBE, LIPTON and BRISK ICED TEAS,
STARBUCKS BOTTLED FRAPPUCCINO, GATORADE, DOLE and TROPICANA.
PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and
beverage brands, including 18 different product lines that each generate
more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. The main businesses -
Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade - also make
hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to
consumers in over 200 countries, including Canada. With more than $43
billion in worldwide 2008 revenues, PepsiCo employs 198,000 worldwide who
are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called
Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad
array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing
our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace
culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to
our communities worldwide. For more information, please visit
www.pepsico.com.
Contacts:
Fleishman Hillard
Janessa Bishop
416-598-5774
Janessa.bishop@fleishman.ca
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