Annett Helps Hawks Travel

"I've always considered myself fortunate to participate in two sports that I'm passionate about, hockey and racing, and to do it a high level," said Annett, previously a Waterloo defenseman. "I'm still a Black Hawk at heart, so I'm thrilled about the opportunity that they are getting to compete in Russia. It's certainly a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip that I hope they enjoy."

Travel expenses to bring the team from Iowa to their destination in southeastern Siberia were estimated to total approximately $5,000 per player. Annett requested that the specific amount of his contribution not be made public.

"We are grateful for Michael's generous support," said Waterloo Black Hawks head coach P.K. O'Handley. "Having the opportunity to stay connected with our alumni - whether they find their way into pro hockey or have success in another field - has been one of the most satisfying parts of coaching in this organization."

Driving the #43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang for Richard Petty Motorsports, Annett has earned four top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes in 2012. He currently ranks sixth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series points standings. Annett, a Des Moines native, was a Black Hawk for two seasons beginning in the fall of 2003 and was part of the team which won the Clark Cup the following spring.

The current Hawks will try to become the first American team to win the Junior Club World Cup beginning Sunday in Omsk when the tournament opens with a game versus HC Energie Junior from Czech Republic. Waterloo will then meet Dynamo Minsk of Belarus Monday, Norway's National Junior Team next Wednesday, and the host Omsk Hawks on August 23rd. The semifinals and championship rounds of the ten-team event are slated for August 25th and 26th respectively.

Before leaving Moscow for Omsk, the Black Hawks will face two exhibition opponents: the Red Army junior club tomorrow and Dynamo Moscow on Thursday.

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United States Hockey League Stories from August 13, 2012

• Annett Helps Hawks Travel - Waterloo Black Hawks

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