HOCKEY CHALLENGE A SUCCESS IN 2003
LaFontaine leads team of alumni and
celebrities in 3 cities
BOSTON, MA, March 3, 2003 - The Microsoft Hockey
Challenge 2003 came to a rousing conclusion at
the FleetCenter in Boston on March 1st. The tour
also made stops in Seattle and New York.
The Challenge games featured representatives
from various divisions within Microsoft, as well
as stars from the music industry, television and
film and NHL alumni. Leading the alumni in all
three games of the Challenge was five-time NHL
All Star, Pat LaFontaine. His charity,
Companions in Courage Foundation, as well as the
Ronald McDonald House in Seattle, are
benefactors of the proceeds from the series.
The series opened at KeyArena in Seattle on
February 8th and 9th. A group of celebrities,
including Kiefer Sutherland, Cameron Bancroft,
Ken Olandt, Paul Guilfoyle, Michael Rosenbaum,
Michael Landes, DB Sweeney and Chad Lowe took
the ice to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in
Seattle. They were joined by former NHLers,
LaFontaine, Bob Sweeney and Bruce Courtnall.
Prior to the game, the NHL Alumni and
celebrities visited the Ronald McDonald House.
Michael Rosenbaum, the star of Smallville, said,
"This is what it's all about. We're here to have
some fun, but these kids are the real reason we
play these games."
As an added feature this year, prior to the
celebrity game, the New York Police Department
Hockey team faced off with a team from Seattle's
Finest. The game brought out the spirit and
camaraderie shared by these departments who are
only separated by the 3,000 miles that lies
between them.
The hockey tour moved to New York with a game at
Nassau Coliseum on Sunday, February 23rd. The
night before the game, a host of celebrities
gathered at a billiards lounge in New York City
for a fund-raiser to benefit Companions in
Courage. Michael Peca, captain of the New York
Islanders, led a large contingent of current
players to the event. He said, "We are well
aware of all the good work that Pat has done for
sick kids. We are happy to be able to assist in
this great work by joining him tonight."
Tom Arnold joined Brian Valentine, SVP of
Windows, and LaFontaine to help raise the bids
on a host of auction items. The bidders included
many former Islanders and Rangers, John Salley
from Fox's Best Damn Sports Show, and the band,
Nickelback.
The New York Hockey Challenge game was played
immediately upon the conclusion of the Islanders
vs. Bruins game the next afternoon. Prominent
alumni from the Islanders and Rangers such as
Mike Bossy, Bob Nystrom, Rod Gilbert and Marcel
Dionne were among the former NHLers
participating. They were joined by an eclectic
group of celebrities, including television
personality Deborah Norville, pro wrestler Mick
Foley, Boomtown's Neal McDonough, and Tyler
Stewart of The Bare Naked Ladies.
A large group of volunteers, under the direction
of Jamie Van Dyke of Oyster Bay (NY), sold
raffle tickets for the player's autographed
jerseys and helped raise awareness. Proceeds
from the New York game is earmarked by
Companions in Courage Foundation for the
building of interactive game rooms at Schneider
Children's Hospital on Long Island and the Maria
Fareri Children's Hospital in Westchester.
The final stop on the tour was in Boston, for a
star-studded game at the Fleet Center on March
1st. The contest featured the first-ever
appearance of Cam Neely and Raymond Bourque in
Bruins uniforms on the FleetCenter ice. The
Bruins immortals were joined by many other
prominent former teammates including Rick
Middleton, Reggie Lemelin, Brad Park, Gerry
Cheevers, Kenny Linseman and Barry Pederson. The
alumni were joined by U.S. Olympians Mike
Eruzione and Sue Mears, comedian Dennis Leary,
and ESPN broadcaster Steve Levy. Proceeds from
the Boston game will be directed through
Companions in Courage Foundation to the
Franciscan Children's Hospital and
Rehabilitation Center in Brighton.
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