Wawanesa Insurance teams up with Canadian Hockey League in new multi-year partnership

WINNIPEG, MB--(Marketwired - October 20, 2016) - Wawanesa Insurance and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) are proud to announce an exciting new partnership as Wawanesa becomes the Official Auto/Home Insurance Company of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

This new multi-year deal includes sponsorship of 34 CHL teams in the OHL and the QMJHL. As part of its partnership with the world's largest development league, Wawanesa Insurance will be featured prominently on Sportsnet and TVA Sports broadcasts during the regular season, the playoffs, as well as CHL National Events -- the CIBC Canada Russia Series, Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, and the Mastercard Memorial Cup.

"The Canadian Hockey League is proud to have Wawanesa Insurance as part of the CHL family," said CHL President David Branch. "We would like to congratulate Wawanesa Insurance as they celebrate 120 years as a Canadian company, and look forward to building a partnership where together we can actively support youth and our communities."

Leveraging the CHL's national scope and local in-market presence, Wawanesa Insurance will activate their sponsorship at various games in 34 communities across Canada, beginning October 21, 2016, and continuing throughout the season.

"What attracted us to the CHL and its leagues was how closely it fit with our long history of insuring communities from coast to coast in Canada. Like the CHL, we are committed to giving back to the communities in which we live and work," said Keith Hartry, Chief Operating Officer of the Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company. "We're excited about this partnership and look forward to the years ahead and participating in the growth of both the CHL and Wawanesa -- two great Canadian organizations."

Wawanesa Insurance sponsored CHL teams:

OHL		QMJHL
Barrie Colts		Acadie-Bathurst Titan
Guelph Storm		Baie-Comeau Drakkar
Kingston Frontenacs		Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
Kitchener Rangers		Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
London Knights		Charlottetown Islanders
Mississauga Steelheads		Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Niagara IceDogs		Drummondville Voltigeurs
North Bay Battalion		Gatineau Olympiques
Oshawa Generals		Halifax Mosseheads
Ottawa 67's		Moncton Wildcats
Owen Sound Attack		Rimouski Océanic
Peterborough Petes		Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Sarnia Sting		Saint John Sea Dogs
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds		Shawinigan Cataractes
Sudbury Wolves		Sherbrooke Phoenix
Windsor Spitfires		Val-d'Or Foreurs Victoriaville Tigres

About Wawanesa Insurance
Wawanesa Insurance is a Canadian mutual company owned by its policyholders. It is one of the largest property and casualty insurers in Canada. Wawanesa has a rich history dating back to September 25, 1896, when it was founded in the Village of Wawanesa, Manitoba. Today executive offices are located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Wawanesa Insurance operates in all areas of Canada, as well as California and Oregon in the United States. Wawanesa's Canadian insurance products are distributed by independent insurance brokers, aside from Québec where products are distributed through company agents.

About the Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is the world's largest development hockey league with 52 Canadian and eight American teams participating in the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League. CHL players graduate from high school at a rate higher than the Canadian national average. More than nine million fans annually attend CHL games during the regular season, playoffs and at the Mastercard Memorial Cup. The CHL is the number one supplier of talent to the National Hockey League (NHL) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS).