2010 Event Recap
The 2010 United Cerebral Palsy Detroit Red Wing Alumni Charity Game was once again a huge success. All to the benefit of the disabled individuals and their families served by United Cerebral Palsy of Metro Detroit.
The evening, dedicated to the memory of our friend and former board member, Roger McCarville, began with the Michigan Sled Dogs disabled hockey team taking on a group that weren’t skilled at sled hockey but were amazing at raising money. This group raised well over $3500 for the event. Thanks go out to Sledsters Chris Moore (tops among all monies raised) , Craig Duncan, Ptarick Duffy, Erich Wiemer, Laura DeMeulemeester (who was left out of the program somehow…sorry, Laura), Dan Hillis, Thom Becka, Jake Gorton, Jake Jeske, Pat Siedel, Logan McLean in goal and Chuck Cassovoy , who was playing against his son, Holden of the Sled Dogs. The Sled Dogs (even with captain Marc Henretta sidelined with a shoulder injury) took care of business as they did recently at the London Ontario tourney where they earned a Gold Medal.
The main event then took over with Frank Connelly and Phenecia Banks as our masters of ceremony and Kimberly VanBiesbrouck ….singing the anthem capped off by Miloslov Valascho dropping the puck for Mickey Redmond and Bryan Gruley (a first timer who was our top Puckster money raiser). 16 year-old Allie Carter (subbing in goal for her dad Jeff) held the Pucksters in the game for most of the first period with stellar work between the pipes but the Wings broke open a tight 1-1 game with a couple late goals for a 3-1 lead at the break. Our coaches, Eric Ray and Ron Castorri gave the Pucksters some words of wisdom, “you ain’t gonna make Hockey Night in Canada playing like that!” As the final period started the Pucksters put steady pressure on the Wings but, in the end, they pummeled Dennis Berchulc in the second period building a 7-2 lead before the Pucksters got the last tally for a 7-3 final.
The line of Logan McLean, Joey Mannino, Jr, Bryan Gruley ended up with all the goal scoring…McLean with 2 goals, Mannino with one goal while assists went to Gruley, Mannino as well as defensemen Pierre Fuger, Steve Solomon and Mike Ward. First time skaters Brian Harrison, Steve Solomon and Ryan Lapointe along with Keith Starr were kept on their toes by the likes of Redmond, Mike Krushelnyski, Brent Fedyk and Pat Peake. Veteran Pucksters Mark Simon, Dave Witkowski, Tom Ward, John Beavers and Chris Gorton (whose son, Jake, was a sled player) had numerous chances but could not capaitolize. Michelle Harmala (who came right from her tourney game in Livonia) was hit by former Wing and 50 goal scorer, John Ogrodnick along the boards and had the quote of the game… “when Ogrodnick was 'beating' me up on the far boards, he looked down (since he towers over me) and said--"It's a girl! I am so sorry, I didn't know you were a girl. I was only messing with you!" He apologized a few more times on the ice and at the end of the game. I thought it was a compliment---like, "you don't skate like a girl" ha ha ;-).”
Check out the photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/wardangela9/RedWingAlumni2010
Dave Witkoski had this to say “soooo cool! Mr. Ogrodnick made my night when he stuck me against the boards as i cleared a puck from the zone...i was laughing, he was laughing, good times.”
But Bryan Gruley put it best…
"Great guys, great game, great cause equals great event. I was proud to be a part of it."
Thank you to everyone who raised money, helped out at the game or brought people to the game. We could not do this without you.
