Calgary Hitmen Executive Summary 2012-13 season will be the Calgary Hitmen Hockey Clubs 18th year in franchise history. In recent history the club has finished sixth in 2011-12, twenty second in 2010-11 and first in 2009-10. Following the Hitmen s first place finish in 2009-10, the club went on to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup on May 7th, 2010 with a five game series victory over the Tri-City Americans. Ironically the Hitmen also won their first WHL Championship on May 7th in 1999 with a five game series victory over the Kamloops Blazers. The Hitmen have been a model of consistency being playoff contenders almost every year since their inception into the WHL. During their 17 year tenure they have won four (4) WHL Regular Season Titles and six Central Division Pennants. In addition, 31 players have gone on to play in the National Hockey League with Ryan Getzlaf, Andrew Ladd and Brad Stuart all winning the Stanley Cup. The Hitmen were originally owned by 18 private investors, including Bret the Hitman Hart, the namesake of the franchise. In June of 1997 the Calgary Flames Limited partnership purchased the Hitmen. The Flames own and operate the Hitmen Hockey Club playing all home games in the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Calgary Hitmen are major supporters of minor hockey in the City of Calgary. Over the past decade the Hitmen have developed a relationship with Hockey Calgary to ensure that the growth of sport within the city continues to flourish. Each year the Calgary Hitmen and Hockey Calgary unite towards a common goal helping to create lasting memories for young hockey players throughout the Calgary Community. The following is an in depth look at the importance that this partnership between Hockey Calgary and the Calgary Hitmen plays in shaping our community.
NSD Coaching Day November 19, 2011 > Coaches from Hockey Calgary Associations and across the entire province were encouraged to attend and take in coaching advice from NHL Alumni > The day included a special offer to the Calgary Hitmen game for all coaches who participated and their respective teams > Teams celebrated the game with signs, jerseys and prizes as part of the Cardel Rockin Rally - HOCKEY CALGARY EXISTING MARKETING INITIATIVES
Hockey Calgary Referee Appreciation Night December 16, 2012 > Referees were offered two free tickets (one guest), complimentary food/beverage, and a Q&A session with league officials prior to the game > Referees were also provided a discount ticket card for all Hitmen games - HOCKEY CALGARY EXISTING MARKETING INITIATIVES
Tim Hortons: Timbits Day at the Scotiabank Saddledome January 8, 2012 - HOCKEY CALGARY EXISTING MARKETING INITIATIVES > Up to 2,200 tickets are provided for Calgary area Timbit players and coaches > Throughout the Hitmen season, 12 different Timbit teams from Hockey Calgary were featured during the Timbits Hockey Intermission Feature > Teams played a short hockey game during the first intermission of a Hitmen game
Wendy s Novice Development League January 29, 2012 > All novice players were provided with two Hitmen replica jerseys to wear complete with their association s name bar. > All teams were named after the Hitmen (i.e. McKnight Novice 2 Hitmen) > Wendy s provided tray liners in Calgary restaurants that featured the Hockey Calgary logo and highlighted the Novice Development program > Teams were provided with a $50 credit towards a team party meal at Wendy s restaurants > There were numberous opportunities for Calgary Hitmen players to participate in Novice level practices - HOCKEY CALGARY EXISTING MARKETING INITIATIVES
- HOCKEY CALGARY EXISTING MARKETING INITIATIVES Game Night Sponsorship Wendy s Novice Day > 2,500 tickets given to Hockey Calgary to be used by participants in the Wendy s Novice Development program in hopes of team celebrations at the Scotiabank Saddledome > Promotions were focused on the Novice teams within the crowd and many Novice players
Hitmen Community Initiatives > The Calgary Hitmen players take pride in not only their competitiveness on the ice, as well as being an integral part of the Calgary hockey community > The Hitmen love taking the time to practice with minor hockey players, giving them many tips that help the younger generation improve their play > During the 2011-12 season, the Hitmen made over 50 appearances in the community > The organization happily contributes to countless association fundraisers through donation requests. Tickets, signed jerseys/sticks, framed prints, jackets, and plenty of other items are contributed annually to help fundraise for various Novice teams and events - HOCKEY CALGARY EXISTING MARKETING INITIATIVES
2012-13 NEW INITIATIVES
Hockey Calgary Association Night s During the 2012-13 WHL regular season, the Calgary Hitmen will be introducing a new initiative that allows Hockey Calgary and its affiliate Associations to be recognized for their contributions to minor hockey in the city of Calgary. At selected regular season home games, each of the 17 Calgary Minor Hockey Associations will have the opportunity to highlight their Association members, teams and volunteers. There by recognizing contributors for their constant effort and commitment to the community. These game nights will offer an exclusive opportunity for each Association to promote their programs and will act as a medium to put forth key messaging to other members in the community. Each participating Association will receive the following incentives: 1) Exclusive Ticket Pricing & Offers 2) 50/50 Honorarium Up to $1,000 towards your Associations programs and initiatives for selling 50/50 tickets. 3) LED & Matrix Exposure Includes Association Logo and Welcome on Energy Board 4) Association Presidents Message 5) Website Recognition Inclusion on the Hitmen Website with link to your Association s Website 6) Intermission Feature Opportunity to have a team from your Association as on ice participants 7) Post Game Skate Have your group skate on Scotiabank Saddledome Ice after the game 8) Hitmen Player Appearance Have a Hitmen Player attend one of your Association Events
The New Novice Development League (NDL) Three (3) years ago, the Calgary Hitmen and Hockey Calgary embarked on a new venture to promote the growth and development of hockey at the Novice Level. With the recent decision to move back to association jerseys, the Calgary Hitmen would like to continue to foster the growth of minor hockey in our city through the introduction of a new platform for the Novice Development League. The platform will seek to enhance the existing program, drawing on its success but also allow for more opportunity for input at the Association Level. The NEW Novice Development League will allow for the following: 1) Association Logo & Colours on all jerseys 2) An Exclusive Novice Development Hitmen Game 3) Calgary Hitmen Website Inclusion 4) Community & Player Interaction The Calgary Hitmen would like to serve as the vehicle in helping to promote the game of hockey and give young players the chance to experience a junior hockey atmosphere, all while creating lasting memories. The overall goal is to make hockey fun. A detailed look at the proposed Novice Development League is available on the following pages.
1) Novice Development League (NDL) Jerseys The new NDL jerseys will focus on the needs of each individual Association. Allowing them to utilize their own colours and logos on the jersey s. This in turn will permit each Association the ability to differentiate themselves from other teams in the NDL. SPONSOR NOVICE DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SPONSOR LOGO SPONSOR NOVICE SPONSOR LOGO DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE As a partner of the NDL, the Calgary Hitmen would be represented with a shoulder patch on each Association Novice jersey. This allows the Hitmen to demonstrate their support for the program. Association Logo SPONSOR NOVICE SPONSOR LOGO DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 2) Exclusive Novice Development Hitmen Hockey Game Each player in the NDL will receive a free ticket to a Calgary Hitmen Game. The date, which is to be determined, will focus on the promotion of Hockey Calgary and the growth of Novice Hockey in the city. The event will be a celebration of minor hockey in Calgary and players will gain admission by wearing their NDL jerseys. This will be an opportunity for Associations to show off their teams and jerseys. The Novice Development Hitmen Hockey Game will include the following: > 2,500 game tickets for players and coaching staff > Exclusive Ticket Offers for Team Parents > Intermission Feature to showcase NDL skills and skating > Novice prizing and promotions during the game > Opportunity for game PA messages and coach/executive/player interviews
3) Calgary Hitmen Website Inclusion Hitmenhockey.com will feature a Novice Development League link on the homepage. This link will take you directly to the Hockey Calgary page. This will showcase the relationship between the NDL and the Calgary Hitmen. Fans that visit the Hitmen website will be able to learn more about the NDL and other Hockey Calgary Programs. 4) Exclusive Novice Development Hitmen Hockey Game Calgary Hitmen players will attend one Association event or practice during the season. This may include the following: > Attending an NDL practice or scrimmage > An Association function or charitable event > An autograph signing and/or picture event 5) Hitmen Investment in the Hockey Calgary Novice Development Program The Calgary Hitmen will provide funding as negotiated with Hockey Calgary for the ongoing program initiatives of the Novice Development program.
We Look Forward to a Successful Partnership in the Upcoming 2012-13 WHL Season!