AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Willie O'Ree to kick off All-Star week

Published on January 27, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - Willie O'Ree, who in 1958 became the first black player to skate in the National Hockey League, will be at the forefront of community events surrounding the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic, which will be held Feb. 8-9 at Van Andel Arena.

O'Ree, who played in 45 NHL games and 56 AHL contests during a distinguished 20-year career, will visit Grand Rapids for three days to participate in a variety of activities involving the Grand Rapids Griffins Youth Foundation, local schools, hospitals and charities. In addition, O'Ree will serve as keynote speaker for the "Diversity in Business and Sports Symposium," a luncheon sponsored by the Griffins Youth Foundation and Warner Norcross & Judd LLP at the University Club on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

All-Star activities will kick into high gear on Friday, Feb. 6 at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids, with a unique Public Skills Competition modeled after the AHL All-Star Skills Competition. Fans can test their talents in four events - fastest skater, hardest shot, puck handling, and target shooting - from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

During the Public Skills Competition at Rosa Parks Circle and the AHL All-Star Classic at Van Andel Arena, volunteers will wear special jerseys from each of the AHL's 28 franchises, as well as the PlanetUSA and Canadian AHL All-Star Teams. Each one-of-a-kind commemorative jersey, which features the name "GRAND RAPIDS" and the numerals "04" on the back, will be autographed by that particular team's All-Star representatives, while the two AHL All-Star sweaters will be signed by all 24 players from the respective team.

All 30 jerseys will be available for bidding through an eBay auction that begins at noon on Saturday, Feb. 7 and continues for 10 days, with all proceeds benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Fans can link to the auction through griffinshockey.com.

The final major All-Star community event will take place on Monday, Jan. 9, the morning of the AHL All-Star Game. From 10-11 a.m., dozens of AHL All-Star players and several team mascots will visit patients in five Grand Rapids hospitals: DeVos Children's Hospital, Spectrum Hospital-Blodgett Campus, Saint Mary's Mercy Medical Center, Mary Free Bed Hospital and Metropolitan Hospital.

A complete schedule of community activities during AHL All-Star Week in Grand Rapids accompanies this release.

As part of its long-standing commitment to the AHL and in honor of Grand Rapids' staging of the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic, Franklin Sporting Goods will donate $7,500 worth of equipment to the Griffins Youth Foundation. Since 1995, the Foundation has worked to expand the opportunities for participation in ice-skating and related sports and activities, and to encourage academic excellence, community involvement and healthy lifestyles among the youth of West Michigan.

The 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic gets underway at Van Andel Arena on Sunday, Feb. 8, with the 2004 AHL All-Star Skills Competition at 7 p.m. The annual All-Star Game follows at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, and will be televised live to 100 million households in the United States and Canada.

Of the 295 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 91 percent have competed in the NHL, including Daniel Briere, Andrew Brunette, Anson Carter, Pavol Demitra, Rick DiPietro, J.P. Dumont, Mike Dunham, Patrik Elias, Rico Fata, Manny Legace, John Madden, Brendan Morrison, Ladislav Nagy, Vaclav Prospal, Dwayne Roloson, Martin St. Louis, Marc Savard, Jason Spezza, Steve Sullivan, Tomas Vokoun and Jason Williams.

AHL ALL-STAR COMMUNITY EVENTS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2

11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. - Willie O'Ree to meet with 425 children from Grand Rapids Public Schools at Griff's IceHouse (30 Coldbrook NE). Children will have lunch and skate with O'Ree afterwards.

4-5 p.m. - Willie O'Ree to visit a City of Grand Rapids after-school program with 85-100 kids at Campus Elementary (1320 Thomas SE). Floor hockey will be part of the activities.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3

9:30-10:30 a.m. - Willie O'Ree to meet with 100-150 children at Westwood Middle School (1525 Mt. Mercy NW).

11 a.m.-Noon - Willie O'Ree available for individual interviews at the University Club (111 Lyon NW). Interested media should contact Mary Ann Sabo of Sabo Public Relations at (616) 485-1432.

Noon-1:30 p.m. - Willie O'Ree to deliver keynote speech at "Diversity in Business and Sports Symposium," sponsored by the Griffins Youth Foundation and Warner Norcross & Judd LLP at the University Club (111 Lyon NW). Approximately 50 business and community leaders will be in attendance. O'Ree will receive recognition and a proclamation from the Grand Rapids City Commission.

4:30-5:30 p.m. - Willie O'Ree to visit patients at Mary Free Bed Hospital (235 Wealthy SE).

6-7 p.m. - Willie O'Ree and two Griffins players to meet with 60-80 children from the Griffins Youth Foundation at Griff's IceHouse (30 Coldbrook NE). They will speak to the children and conduct an on-ice practice.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

8:30-9 a.m. - Willie O'Ree to meet with 250 children and parents at Ridge Park Charter Academy (4120 Camelot Ridge SE, Kentwood).

1:30-2:30 p.m. - Willie O'Ree to meet with 250 children at Vista Charter Academy (711 32nd SE, Wyoming).

5-7 p.m. - Willie O'Ree to meet with 45 children from Clancey Street Ministries and 65 children from the Griffins Youth Foundation Home Ice Program at Griff's IceHouse (30 Coldbrook NE).

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5

5-7 p.m. - Griffins All-Stars Jiri Hudler, Travis Richards and Nathan Robinson to sign autographs at Woodland Mall (3195 28th SE).

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6

Noon-5 p.m. - Public Skills Competition begins at Rosa Parks Circle (Market & Monroe Avenues). Skills featured include fastest skater, hardest shot, puck handling and target shooting.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7

10 a.m.-5 p.m. - Public Skills Competition continues at Rosa Parks Circle (Market & Monroe Avenues).

Noon - Bidding for 30 commemorative AHL jerseys begins on eBay.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8

10 a.m.-3 p.m. - Public Skills Competition concludes at Rosa Parks Circle (Market & Monroe Avenues).

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9

10-11 a.m. - Dozens of AHL All-Star players and several team mascots will visit patients in five Grand Rapids hospitals: DeVos Children's Hospital (100 Michigan NE), Spectrum Hospital-Blodgett Campus (1840 Wealthy SE), Saint Mary's Mercy Medical Center (200 Jefferson SE), Mary Free Bed Hospital (235 Wealthy SE) and Metropolitan Hospital (1919 Boston SE).

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American Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2004


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