"Miracle on Ice" Goaltender Jim Craig Coming to Flint

Published on February 25, 2009 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Flint Generals News Release


FLINT, MI - The Flint Generals of the International Hockey League are very proud to announce that 1980 U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Jim Craig, goaltender of "Team USA Miracle on Ice" will be heading to Flint as a very special guest of the Generals and to bring public awareness to our community.

Craig will be here in town on Thursday, February 26, 2009 as the Generals host the Bloomington Prairie Thunder at 7:00 p.m.

Craig is here as the National Spokesperson for the Ultimate SAAAVE (Saving Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Very Efficiently) campaign. Jim Craig's father passed away from the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in 1988.

The Ultimate SAAAVE campaign is a public awareness initiative that encourages those with risk factors for AAA - men or women 65-75 years old who have ever smoked, or me or women 65-75 years old with a family history of AAA to receive a quick and painless screening that can detect AAA.

There will be a free reception (via reservation) with Jim on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Holiday Inn Gateway Centre on Hill Rd from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. He will be on hand for the Generals game later that evening.

Craig will drop the ceremonial puck to start the game. The Generals will be wearing commemorative red, white and blue jerseys created just for this event. These jerseys will be auctioned off at the conclusion of the hockey game.

"This promises to be a very special night for our fans and the entire organization," said Generals' Head Coach, Bobby Reynolds. "Jim Craig was part of one of the greatest sports moments and possibly THE GREATEST MOMENT in world history with the 1980 Team USA Olympic Gold Medal at Lake Placid. The memory of those two weeks at the Olympic Games lives on 29 years later."

The celebration of that year and those memories continue. "Everyone remembers where they were for those two weeks," continued Reynolds. "Everyone remembers watching Team USA beat the Soviet Union and the wild celebration of the biggest upset in sports history. Everyone remembers TEAM USA beat Finland for the Gold Medal," continues Reynolds. "Who will ever forget the Gold Medal Ceremony and the pride we felt as a nation and how proud we were and still are, of the 1980 Miracle on Ice."

Reynolds also understands the mission of Jim Craig this week. "Serving as the National Spokesperson for SAAAVE, this is a very personal and ongoing message that Jim is delivering," said Reynolds. "His status in our country and his personal experience with this brings a solid message that could save many lives."

"We look forward to having Jim in town and to the Generals' game as our guest," continues Reynolds. "We are proud to be a part of this very special public awareness campaign that is so important to Jim. Of course, we will always remember him as the Olympic goaltender of one of the greatest moments in history. This will be a great night."

Tickets are on sale for Thursday night's game and all regular season home games at the Perani Arena Ticket Office by calling (810) 744-0580 or on-line at www.flintgenerals.com. For more details, contact the Flint Generals at (810) 742-9422.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 25, 2009


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