August 13, 2003

Alberta man wins Ford-sponsored hockey camp with Gretzky

Oakville, Ontario - David Day of Taber, Alberta has won Ford of Canada's on-line "Playoff Payoff" contest grand prize and will be participating in Wayne Gretzky's Fantasy Camp in Scottsdale, Arizona.

To win, Mr. Day completed his electronic game board by collecting six icons hidden on Ford of Canada's website, www.ford.ca. Each icon represented a milestone year in the life of Wayne Gretzky and the history of Ford of Canada.

Contestants were eligible to win over 900 instant prizes, and 25 secondary prizes were also awarded, which included framed hockey jerseys, photos, hockey sticks, gloves and pucks, all signed by The Great One himself.

"This is just unbelievable," stated an incredulous David Day. "Playing hockey with Wayne Gretzky is any Canadian's dream come true. There were thousands of entrants in this contest. I consider myself extremely lucky to have won."

Mr. Day is training for a stellar Fantasy Camp tour. He will have daily scrimmages and instruction, plus four days of ice-time with Wayne Gretzky and other former NHL hockey greats. He will attend an opening reception and a closing banquet, and will fly home with a framed, personally autographed photograph of himself and Wayne Gretzky, home and away jerseys created with his name and number, and a camp video. His trip also includes a return flight to Scottsdale, Arizona, and five nights deluxe accommodation.

The Playoff Payoff contest ran from April 10 to May 31, 2003 and was open to hockey fans across the country (excluding Quebec). To be entered to win the grand prize, participants printed their completed electronic game boards from the Ford website and took them to their local dealership. The grand prize winner was drawn from all eligible entrants on July 2, 2003.

Ford and its dealers have been involved with Canadian hockey, both at the professional and at the minor level for a number of years. Ford has been a major advertiser on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada for 31 years and currently has sponsorship agreements with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Montreal's Bell Centre - home of the Montreal Canadiens.

Canadian Ford dealers have provided financial support for minor teams, transportation to games and contributed to arenas in most communities throughout Canada.

More News....