Former Toronto Maple Leafs Player and Roller Derby Moms Among New Cast in Season 22 of THE AMAZING RACE, Premiering Feb. 17 on CTV

- 11 teams travel through five continents covering more than 30,000 miles -

- Season 22 introduces a new twist to the game in which the first Team to check in at the first pit stop earns two "Express Passes" -

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TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2013 /CNW/ - Canada's most-watched reality series is back with another batch of 11 teams, including hockey player brothers, one of which is former Toronto Maple Leafs player Bates Battaglia, who will embark on a sprint around the globe on THE AMAZING RACE! Season 22 of the perennial smash hit series premieres Sunday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times). Following its television broadcast, viewers can also catch up on full episodes of THE AMAZING RACE across CTV's digital platforms on CTV.ca, the CTV App, CTV Mobile available on Bell Mobile TV, and through video on demand partners.

THE AMAZING RACE is Canada's #1 reality series and Canada's #3 most-watched program with an average audience of 2.7 million viewers. This season of the multi-Emmy^® Award-winning series introduces a new twist to the game in which the first Team to check in at the first pit stop earns two "Express Passes" - one to keep for themselves and one that must be given to another Team by the end of the fourth leg of the Race.

Traveling more than 30,000 miles, over five continents and through nine countries, Teams skydive from 10,000 feet in Bora Bora, participate in a Shemozzle race in New Zealand, hunt for scorpions with the Bushmen of Botswana, and scale the treacherous north face of the Eiger Mountain in Switzerland.

This season also welcomes a diverse cast which includes former professional hockey player and former Toronto Maple Leafs player Bates Battaglia and his hockey playing brother, twin brothers who are both OB/GYNs, father/son cancer survivors, Southern firefighters, roller derby moms, and female country singers..

**Media Note** Photography for THE AMAZING RACE available online at BellMediaPR.ca

The following are the 11 teams, listed in no particular order:

Name: Bates Battaglia
Age: 36
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Current occupation: Former Professional Hockey Player
(Played for the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs)

Name: Anthony Battaglia
Age: 33
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Current occupation: Professional Hockey Player
(Currently plays for the Huntsville Havoc)

Connection: Hockey Brothers

_________________________________________________________________________

Name: Idries Abdur-Rahman
Age: 36
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Current occupation: OB/GYN Physician

Name: Jamil Abdur-Rahman
Age: 36
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Current occupation: OB/GYN Physician

Connection: Twin Doctors

_________________________________________________________________________

Name: Max Bichler
Age: 30
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
Current occupation: Cigar Sales

Name: Katie Bichler
Age: 24
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
Current occupation: Pharmacist

Connection: Newlyweds

_________________________________________________________________________

Name: Mona Egender
Age: 33
Hometown: Castle Pines, Colo.
Current occupation: Captioner/Roller Derby Player

Name: Beth Bandimere
Age: 36
Hometown: Arvada, Colo.
Current occupation: Tech Support/Roller Derby Player

Connection: Roller Derby Moms

_________________________________________________________________________

Name: Chuck McCall
Age: 46
Hometown: Daphne, Ala.
Current occupation: Retail Manager/Taxidermist

Name: Wynona McCall
Age:  49
Hometown: Daphne, Ala.
Current occupation: Cosmetologist/Hairstylist

Connection: Married

_________________________________________________________________________

Name: David O'Leary
Age: 58
Hometown: Salt Lake City
Current occupation: Investment Properties

Name: Connor O'Leary
Age: 21
Hometown:  Salt Lake City
Current occupation: Professional Cyclist

Connection: Father/Son (Both Cancer Survivors)

________________________________________________________________________

Name: Caroline Cutbirth
Age: 29
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Current occupation: Singer/Songwriter (Band Member of "Stealing Angels")
*Caroline is a direct descendant of Daniel Boone

Name: Jennifer Kuhle
Age: 30
Hometown: Nashville
Current occupation: Songwriter (Band Member of "Stealing Angels")
*Jennifer is the granddaughter of John Wayne

Connection: Friends/Country Singers

_________________________________________________________________________

Name: Joey Graceffa
Age: 21
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: YouTube Host
Internet Personality Joey's YouTube Channel

Name: Meghan Camarena
Age: 25
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: YouTube Host
Internet Personality Meghan's YouTube Channel

Connection: Friends/YouTube Hosts

_________________________________________________________________________

Name: Pamela Chien
Age: 29
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: Art Director and Fitness Instructor

Name: Winnie Sung
Age: 29
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current occupation: Senior Project Manager

Connection: Best Friends

_________________________________________________________________________

Name: Jessica Hoel
Age: 26
Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Current occupation: Account Manager

Name: John Erck
Age: 27
Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Current Occupation: Entrepreneur/Computer Programmer

Connection: Dating

_________________________________________________________________________

Name: Matthew Davis
Age: 25
Hometown: Gaffney, S.C.
Current occupation: Firefighter

Name: Daniel Moss
Age: 24
Hometown: Gaffney, S.C.
Current occupation: Firefighter

Connection:  Best Friends/Firefighters

THE AMAZING RACE sends 11 teams on a trek around the world.  Each Team is comprised of two people who have a pre-existing relationship with one another.  At every destination, each Team competes in a series of challenges - some mental and some physical - and when the tasks have been completed, they learn their next destination. Teams who are farthest behind will gradually be eliminated as the contest progresses, with the first team to arrive at the final destination winning at least $1 million.

Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri, and Mark Vertullo are the executive producers for Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Earthview Inc. in association with ABC Studios and Amazing Race Productions. THE AMAZING RACE was created by Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri.

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About CTV
CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada's most-watched television network for the past 10 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at ctv.ca.

SOURCE: CTV

Jacqui VanSickle, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.5091 or [email protected]
Jim Quan, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.5311 or [email protected]