Successful charity game coming to the UK hoping to grow the game, raise awareness and prevent concussions in the process.
Sheffield, U.K. – The EIHL Playoff weekend in Nottingham is the Elite League’s showpiece event and signifies the season drawing to a close when one of four teams are crowned Elite League Playoff Champions. After the hangovers of the weekend have subsided, fans tend to reflect on the seasons highs and lows. After then, supporters begin to get itchy feet and look for their next hockey fix.
The following weekend on Saturday 20th of April hockey fans will get the chance to enjoy a hockey fix, whilst supporting a brilliant cause. The Ice Hockey Super Series will be coming to the FlyDSA Arena (Home of the Sheffield Steelers) in Sheffield where old foes Canada and USA will battle it out on the ice for honours and bragging rights.
The teams will boast a host of experienced players including Stanley Cup winner Brandon Bollig, veteran of over 900 NHL games, Kevin Bieksa and former Winnipeg Jet forward Tim Stapleton, who will captain the USA side.
The teams will consist of players from the National Hockey League, American Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and stars of the EIHL including Dane Byers, David Rutherford, Matt Bissonnette, Zack Fitzgerald, Jordan Smotherman and Coventry Blaze trio, Chris Joyaux, Kevin Morris and Kevin Noble.
It’s the first time the event will be in the UK after previously being called the Ice Hockey Classic. The event, which has been played in Australia and New Zealand for the past five years, is the brain child of NHL veteran Keith Primeau and former European professional Kerry Goulet.
Both men, as well as Keith’s brother Wayne, are co-founders of the charity, Stop Concussions Foundation, which is designed to educate players, coaches, officials and health professionals on the cause, effects and consequences of concussions and brain injuries, not only in ice hockey but all sports.
Various ticket packages are available including VIP meet & greets as well as regular seating online from the FlyDSA Arena website or the ticket hotline on 0114 256 56 56. The game will face-off at 7pm with the doors set to open an hour before.
A face familiar to EIHL fans who will be patrolling the Canadian blueline is Coventry Blaze stalwart Kevin Noble. Kevin also holds a dual role as he has responsibility for player recruitment and will also be one of the alternate captains of the Canadian team.
He spoke about his excitement for the event. “I was fortunate enough 4 years ago to go on tour in Australia to promote the cause. I’ve been able to see all the good that they have done for current and former players who haven’t been able to receive the help that they need when they’ve sustained a brain injury or brain trauma. I’ve made some great friends and connections whilst playing in Australia and I’m happy to be helping out and playing the event now in Sheffield.”
“All the guys who are playing have been generous in giving up their time and playing a game that they don’t get paid to play in order to help raise awareness for future health and to help raise awareness of the game. I suggested that they try the UK because of the great fans and hockey culture that exists here. The goal is to try and raise as much money as possible for Stop Concussions and Headway, who they have partnered with here in the UK.” Kevin added.
“The game itself will be competitive, it won’t be game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, it will be a serious game and more enjoyable and competitive than a testimonial game. The players will have the competitive juices flowing and won’t want to lose,” Kevin concluded.
Blaze defenceman Kevin Noble is one of the organisers of the event (Image courtesy of www.scottwiggins.co.uk).
Previous stars to play in the event include such NHL’ers as Brent Burns, Scott Darling, Ben Scrivens, Adam Cracknell, Bryce Salvador, John Scott, Scott Hannan, and Zenon Konopka.
Further names will be added in the coming weeks from North America and Europe as many leagues are still currently ongoing. With the names already confirmed and the meaning behind the event, the UK Super Series is set to be a great spectacle, one in which the fans won’t leave disappointed whilst raising money for some excellent, worthwhile causes.
If you want to find out more about the event head on over to www.stopconcussions.com or the Super Series UK Facebook page.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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