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Marathon game in Connecticut will benefit the Jimmy Fund
Charity ice hockey game that will be played in Connecticut this August aims to set record.
One of the oldest clichés in sports is that records are made to be broken.
But in some instances, breaking a record is more meaningful than in others.
That’s a primary reason why New Hampton (N.H.) Prep assistant varsity boys’ hockey coach Dave LoPresti has organized a charity ice hockey game that will be played on Aug. 3 and 4 at the Stamford Twin Rinks in Connecticut.
“Having done some research, I found that the longest hockey game in the United States was 25 hours in Buffalo a few years ago,” said LoPresti, who played hockey at Boston University. “I want to break the record for the longest game played in the U.S. by having ours go for 26 hours.
“I had worked at the Stamford Twin Rinks and they said they would love to have it and that it wouldn’t interfere with youth hockey.”
The men who have signed up, or will sign up, for this record-breaking game are being asked to raise $1,000 in order to play. Every penny will be donated to the Jimmy Fund.
“Our organization is Skate 24 to Find a Cure,” LoPresti said. “This is a non-profit organization, and we’re doing it for cancer research.”
The Jimmy Fund supports Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and raises funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research to improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world. This year The Jimmy Fund is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
“Being from Boston, I’m familiar with the Jimmy Fund,” LoPresti said. “I have two daughters, ages 3 and 1. This all started when I heard about a young girl who passed away last September from brain cancer. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like if she was my kid.
“As a dad, I decided to do something in advance and to do something for people who are going through hard times. I know a lot of hockey players and they’re always ‘up’ for doing something like this. The Jimmy Fund was my first thought. It derived from my own children’s health and because I felt the need to give back.”
As of the last week in January, 42 men had signed up to play, and LoPresti wants to cap the number at 60. Besides LoPresti, the following is a partial list of men who’ve signed up to play in this marathon game:
- New Hampton coach Matt Wright, who played on the Terriers’ 1995 NCAA championship team and who also has been an assistant coach at USA Hockey’s Summer Mass. Satellite Program
- Connecticut Oilers coach and New Hampshire grad Eric Lind, who played on Team USA in the World Junior Friendship Series
- Former Union College captain Clark Jones
- Colin Sheen, LoPresti’s former teammate at BU
- Bobby Weston, another former Terrier
- UMass-Amherst’s Scott Horvath
- Union College’s Brendan Milnamow
- Bowling Green State’s Erik Eaton
- Manhattanville College’s all-time scoring leader Chris Seifert
- T.J. Kline, who also played at Manhattanville
- Bentley College’s Marcus Willy
- Norwich’s Al Salvia
- Oswego State’s Evan Pollack
“As of now, I’m surprised at the number of players who’ve signed up,” LoPresti said. “I felt people would be interested but I was surprised at how quickly people responded. From the emails I sent out, I received responses right away.
“It’s been overwhelming how supportive people have been and how they would do anything in support of this cause.”
Depending on the eventual number of players who register, the current plan is to split the group into two teams with, for example, 25 players on each team if there are 50 players.
“We’ll split them up and have about 12 guys on each team,” LoPresti said. “We’ll have one group go out for 1 ½ hours and then have an ice cut so every three hours teams will switch.
“Let’s say we name them Team 1 and Team 2. Each team goes for 1 ½ hours so everybody will get plenty of rest, have time to shower and get something to eat and then come back ready to go. My goal is to get as many players as I can and make sure everybody who signs up participates and has a good time.”
While raising funds for a most noteworthy purpose.
For more information, log onto www.skate24.org or e-mail LoPresti at info@skate24.org.
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
