LaFONTAINE PITCHES IN AT LEARY FIREFIGHTERS
BENEFIT
Boston event raises money and awareness
BOSTON, MA, September 28, 2003 - Pat LaFontaine
was among a host of celebrities who joined Denis
Leary for the comedian's - Hockey's Greatest
Skate for America's Bravest in Boston today.
Proceeds from the event will go toward the
completion of the Leary Firefighters Foundation
and EMC Corporation Training Facility in
Worcester (MA) and will also assist the Boston
Fire Department in the acquisition of new
equipment.
The event kicked off with a celebrity hockey
game at the FleetCenter in Boston. More than
15,000 fans packed the arena to cheer on some of
hockey's greatest players and a cast of
celebrities. Joining Leary on the ice were
Michael J. Fox, Tim Robbins, Senator John Kerry
and Cameron Bancroft. The coaches included Bobby
Orr, Gordie Howe, Stan Mikita and Don Cherry.
The event opened with an emotional tribute by
the Boston Fire Department's Emerald Society
Pipe Band. They were joined on the ice by
members of Boston's Bravest and representatives
of fire departments from throughout
Massachusetts, Chicago and New York.
Leary's team featured a line of LaFontaine
centering Rick Middleton and Cam Neely. They
constantly controlled the puck and made some
spectacular plays to the delight of the Boston
faithful. Bill Ranford also played an amazing
game in net for Leary's squad. Leary explained,
"Since I made up the teams, I paired myself with
Ray Bourque… What am I stupid?"
Rounding out his squad was Phil Esposito, Wayne
Cashman, Ken Hodge, Marcel Dionne and John
Saunders.
Their opponents featured a guest appearance by
current Bruins superstar, Joe Thornton. He
played on a line with Glenn Anderson and Guy
Lafleur, as they tried to shadow the LaFontaine
line all afternoon. Brad Park and Denis Potvin
comprised the primary defensive pair, while
Bryan Trottier, Pete Mahovlich, John Bucyk and
Johnny "Pie" McKenzie rounded out the forwards.
Led by 4 goals each from LaFontaine and Neely -
Leary's EMC Squad skated to an 18-10 victory.
The big winners on the day were the fans who got
to see their immortal Bruins on the ice one more
time, and the firefighters throughout the
Northeast who will benefit from Leary's
generosity and commitment.
About the Leary Firefighters Foundation
The Leary Firefighters Foundation was founded in
2000 by actor Denis Leary in response to a fire
that broke out in an abandoned warehouse in
downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, his hometown,
in December of 1999. Over 75 firefighters ran
into what some have called "the perfect fire"
and six of them never came out. One was Mr.
Leary's first cousin, Jerry Lucey and another
Lt. Tommy Spencer, was a childhood friend and
high school classmate.
To date, The Foundation has distributed over one
million dollars to Worcester Area Fire
Departments for the purpose of improving
equipment and training facilities. The funds
raised at the annual Celebrity Hat Trick, now
entering its fourth year, are donated to the
Worcester Firefighters Local 1009 Equipment Fund
and have been used to build a new training
facility. For more information, visit
www.learyfirefightersfoundation.org.
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