Minor Hockey Gets a Big Win" Off the Ice, in the U.S. and Canada

One man's single generous act of donating his gift to a youth hockey player inspired others, with a final result that 17 players will be receiving gifts.

Markham, Ontario (PRWEB) April 14, 2005 -- Bob Rucci, a resident from Dudley, Massachusetts, entered The Hockey Source (THS) Design-a-Jersey Contest, and won a prize package worth $1,000. When informed that his jersey design had been chosen for the new THS television show, he declared: I want to donate part of my prize, the hockey skates, to a needy child or children...who could really use them." This single generous act inspired others, with the final result that 17 other minor hockey players also will be receiving gifts.

Kevin V. Huhn, executive producer of The Hockey Source-The Ultimate Resource for Minor Hockey, in Markham, Ontario, responded to Bobs gift with a matching donation: We were so touched by Bobs incredible gesture that we decided to give a second pair of skates to another young player, someone from my own hometown, Greenfield Park, Quebec."

Greenfield Park Minor Hockey Association (GPMHA) chose a second winner. A local company, Mullins Sports, is a sponsor of the THS design competition, and will provide both pairs of skates.

President of GPMHA, Bill Howe, has announced that 17 candidates (one from each of the Associations teams) should be considered for the skates, because they best represented team spirit, sportsmanship, and fair play-the basis for the Associations charter. From these 17 finalists came one winner, Étienne Laureault, age 13. Each finalist will receive a $25 gift certificate, in addition to a THS Hat from The Hockey Source.

On April 18, Kevin will be in Massachusetts to unveil the jersey and award a framed copy to Bob, and a pair of skates to the LeBlanc family, who have supported minor hockey for 16 years. Michael LeBlanc, 16, the youngest of 4 brothers, plays for Bay State Youth Hockey, and will accept the skates on behalf of his family, with parents Mel and Lori. The presentation, at 7:00 p.m., takes place at Horgan Arena, 400 Oxford Street North, Auburn, MA.

On April 19, 7:00 p.m., Kevin will be at Mullins Sports Store, 301 Churchill Boulevard, Greenfield Park, QC to present the 2nd pair of skates and the gift certificates.
   
In addition to the skates, the complete prize won by Bob Rucci consists of:
- gifts from The Hockey News, including a 1-year subscription and hockey paraphernalia.
- a package from The Hockey Source that includes a custom framed jersey.
The newly designed jersey will appear on the THS television show, and will be available for purchase through the website, www.thehockeysource.tv. The Hockey Source is a production of Fire n Idea Inc., a privately-owned Canadian corporation.

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