VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/11/13 --

Editors note: There are 15 photos associated with this press release.

Fifteen lucky fans from WHL teams are now eligible to win a trip to the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup, after being named the BMO Ultimate Fan for each of their respective teams.

The contests were held to celebrate BMO Financial Group's partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the official bank of the CHL. BMO Ultimate Fan Appreciation Nights were held in 15 hometowns of WHL teams.

Each team encouraged fans to attend a BMO Ultimate Fan Appreciation Night during their local WHL hockey game and dress up in their team's colours, jerseys and costumes. Participants were then entered into the BMO Ultimate Fan Contest for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (May 24-26, 2013).

In addition to being crowned the BMO Ultimate Fan for their team and getting the chance to win the grand prize, each winner received an autographed team jersey crested with 'BMO Ultimate Fan' and a $50 prepaid MasterCard.

"BMO is proud to support CHL communities across Canada, and it was a thrill for our local branches to recognize fans in 15 WHL hometowns," said Justine Fedak, Senior Vice-President, Branding, Advertising & Sponsorships, BMO Financial Group. "Congratulations and good luck to all of the BMO Ultimate Fan winners in the WHL. We look forward to giving one lucky fan from the WHL the ultimate fan experience at the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup!"

BMO Ultimate Fan Winners in the WHL are:

Will Medin, BMO Ultimate Red Deer Rebels Fan                                
Verna Shaver, BMO Ultimate Swift Current Broncos Fan                        
Blake McStravick, BMO Ultimate Victoria Royals Fan                          
Chris Massini, BMO Ultimate Medicine Hat Tigers Fan                         
Debbie Clark, BMO Ultimate Kamloops Blazers Fan                             
Ory Lavallee, BMO Ultimate Kootenay Ice Fan                                 
Mark Engen, BMO Ultimate Prince Albert Raiders Fan                          
Glen Bobyk, BMO Ultimate Brandon Wheat Kings Fan                            
Brendon Shannon, BMO Ultimate Kelowna Rockets Fan                           
Jared Smith, BMO Ultimate Lethbridge Hurricanes Fan                         
Trevor Folliott, BMO Ultimate Moose Jaw Warriors Fan                        
Alison Giesinger, BMO Ultimate Regina Pats Fan                              
Zada Gierl, BMO Ultimate Prince George Cougars Fan                          
Calvin Cameron, BMO Ultimate Saskatoon Blades Fan                           
Alex Malyuk, BMO Ultimate Vancouver Giants Fan                              

BMO and the Canadian Hockey League

BMO Financial Group is the official bank of the Canadian Hockey League, as well as its member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League, the Western Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The sponsorship builds on BMO's partnership with the CHL of more than 10 years and affirms BMO's exclusivity as a financial services sponsor of the league in the retail banking category. It also engrains a presence with the 46 teams who currently participate in the BMO CHL Affinity MasterCard program, which enables CHL fans to support their favourite teams through branded credit cards.

About BMO Financial Group

For more than 195 years, BMO Financial Group has believed in community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility in the communities it serves. In 2012, BMO contributed more than $87.6 million in donations, sponsorships and events in Canada and the United States to groups, organizations and programs that help build and sustain resilient, vital and healthy communities.

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. Last season, more than nine million fans attended CHL games in the regular season, playoffs and at the MasterCard Memorial Cup. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League than any other league. Last season 636 graduates attended North American post-secondary institutions on scholarships from CHL teams.

To view the fifteen photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links:

Brandon: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage1LG.jpg

Kamloops: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage2LG.jpg

Prince Albert: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage3LG.jpg

Kelowna: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage4LG.jpg

Lethbridge: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage5LG.jpg

Medicine Hat: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage6LG.jpg

Moose Jaw: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage7LG.jpg

Red Deer: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage8LG.jpg

Swift Current: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage9LG.jpg

Victoria: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage10LG.jpg

Regina: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage11LG.jpg

Prince George: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage12LG.jpg

Saskatoon: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage13LG.jpg

Vancouver: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage14LG.jpg

Kootenay: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20130207-BMOimage15LG.jpg