Kitchener Rangers announce new team captain and score major Sun Life sponsorship

Sun Life Financial "Kids In Gear" program wins when Michael Catenacci and his Rangers team-mates score at home

WATERLOO, ON, Sept. 13, 2011 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial's Canadian headquarters buzzed with excitement today after two major announcements were made: Michael Catenacci is the newly named team captain of the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club for the 2011 - 2012 season, and Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Sun Life) has entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement with the Rangers.

"We're confident that Michael will lead our team to great success," said Steve Spott, Head Coach and General Manager of the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club. "We're also looking forward to working with Sun Life, another storied franchise, to help kids who want to play hockey."

As title sponsor for the Sun Life Financial Kids In Gear program, the company will support efforts to collect and buy hockey equipment for kids who need financial support in Waterloo Region.

"We're excited to support the Kitchener Rangers, a team with a proud history and strong community involvement," said Kevin Dougherty, President, Sun Life Financial Canada. "Over 3,000 Sun Life employees and advisors make a significant impact in Waterloo Region, and this partnership will give us even more opportunities to contribute to our community and clearly see the positive results."

The Sun Life Financial Kids In Gear program is the cornerstone of the partnership, helping kids who may not have the funds to get involved in hockey. Three elements of the sponsorship will support the Sun Life Financial Kids in Gear program:

• Every time the Rangers score a goal at The Aud, Sun Life will make a monetary donation to the program.
• Sun Life will hold equipment drives at its local offices.
• At a Skate with the Rangers event at The Aud in January 2012 involving community and media partners, equipment will be collected for the program.

During today's sponsorship and team captain announcements at Sun Life's Canadian headquarters in Waterloo, Mike Farwell, Colour Commentator for Rangers broadcasts, was Master of Ceremonies and introduced the partnership to hundreds of cheering Sun Life employees. Bob Parent, a former Kitchener Rangers player and current Regional Vice-President at Sun Life, dropped a ceremonial puck between Spott and Dougherty to celebrate the collaboration. Michael Catenacci drew a name for the door prize, a new Rangers-Sun Life warm-up jersey, and then he signed it for the lucky winner. Rangers players also signed autographs before the announcement.

More events related to the sponsorship will be announced over the coming months. For more information about the new team captain and the Sun Life Financial Kids In Gear program, go to:

• Sun Life Financial Kids In Gear program
• Kitchener Rangers team captain for 2011 - 2012 season.

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2011, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $474 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollars.

Joint news release from Sun Life Financial and Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club

Image with caption: "Michael Catenacci wears the new Kitchener Rangers' warm-up jersey after being named team captain for the 2011-12 season at Sun Life's Canadian headquarters in Waterloo. (left to right) Steve Spott, Head Coach and General Manager of the Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club; Catenacci; Bob Parent, Regional Vice-President, Sun Life Financial, and former Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs player; Kevin Dougherty, President, Sun Life Financial Canada (CNW Group/Sun Life Financial Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20110913_C2675_PHOTO_EN_3192.jpg