October 23, 2000
NR.086

CANADIAN HOCKEY ASSOCIATION AND PROCTER & GAMBLE LAUNCH INTERACTIVE COACHES CLUB WEB SITE

TORONTO, ON - The Canadian Hockey Association and Procter & Gamble launched the Canadian Hockey Folgers Coaches' Club today in Toronto with the assistance of Wayne Gretzky and National Junior Team Head Coach Stan Butler, the CHA announced on Monday.

The Canadian Hockey Folgers Coaches Club is a component of the PLAY RIGHT program. The other components are the Sunny Delight Challenge and the Pringles Platinum Parent. This program generates awareness of the need for skill development, conditioning, positive attitude, and nutrition for young players and providing tools to aid coaching at the grass roots level of hockey in Canada.

The Canadian Hockey Folgers Coaches' Club is a cutting edge, interactive web site that gives coaches the tools to improve themselves and their players. The Folgers Coaches Club emphasizes skill development and fair play, as key elements in helping kids have fun when they play hockey. This coaching resource web site can be found atwww.coachesclub.net.

"Coaches in minor hockey are always on the lookout for an edge to help them," said Butler, Head Coach of the 2001 National Junior Team and Head Coach/Director of Operations of the OHL's Brampton Battalion. "Here's a terrific website where they can get information and ideas to help develop their players' skills."

A highlight feature of the website is the CoachWare Drill Bank, where coaches can download drills from the site or draw their own. The Vaughn Goalie Zone will provide coaches with drills and teaching progressions for coaches working with goaltenders at all levels. Coaches will also be able to chat with other coaches, post questions to experts in coaching, download video clips, learn more about the art and science of coaching, find new motivational quotes, slogans and much more.

Coaches can sign up to the Canadian Hockey Folgers Coaches' Club atwww.coachesclub.net. For a fee of $44.95, coaches will have unlimited access to the web site for the upcoming season. The fee helps cover the costs of resources used on the site. Any profits from registration fees will be directed into the CHA's development programs.

"This is an exciting day for the Canadian Hockey Association as we launch an interactive tool for coaches from all levels", said Bob Nicholson, President of the CHA. "The involvement of Procter & Gamble, and the PLAY RIGHT Program have been crucial in the delivery of such an outstanding resource to coaches across Canada."

"The development of hockey players begins with the education of minor hockey coaches," said Wayne Gretzky, a supporter of Procter & Gamble's Play Right Program. "The Folgers Coaches' Club gives coaches tools to improve their knowledge of the game and the ways to ensure the game is fun for kids involved in minor hockey."

The PLAY RIGHT program provides coaches and parents with support with the following programs:

The Canadian Hockey Folgers Coaches Club at www.coachesclub.net ñ is an opportunity to help minor hockey coaches teach young players to play at their best through an exclusive "on-line" website where coaches gather, exchange and share information on the development via the Canadian Hockey Association website www.coachesclub.net. The club includes live chats with CHA National team coaches, regular newsletters and discounts on the purchase of coaching resources, with a goal of enhancing the development of coaches in Canada.

The Sunny Delight Challenge ñ rewarding and encouraging coaches to teach sportsmanship and fair play, any CHA registered team that plays a penalty-free game prior to December 15, 2000 can enter to win specialty skill development clinics for the team, as well as BAUER hockey equipment. For entry forms, call 1-800-668-5068 or visit the CHA's web site at www.canadianhockey.ca/playright

The Pringles Platinum Parent Program ñ rewarding parents who do everything they can to help their kids play at their best and have fun. Nominated parents will be sent Pringles to share with their families and could win a trip to watch the Pro's play in Toronto. Enter on-line at www.canadianhockey/playright

The Canadian Hockey Association and PLAY RIGHT's brands of Pringles Potato Chips, Sunny Delight Fruit Drink and Folgers Coffee hope the PLAY RIGHT program assists minor hockey coaches and parents in Canada in providing the tools for young children to do their best and fun while playing the game.s

The PLAY RIGHT program is founded on the belief that playing a sport is only the beginning: positive attitude, skill development, conditioning and nutrition allow players to play at their best. PLAY RIGHT looks to reinforce the message that kids should not only get out and play, they should learn to "PLAY RIGHT".