Irish Hockey Hits Boston 2008

The Irish American Hockey Association has partnered with the Boston Bruins Charitable Foundation to raise monies for Charities throughout the New England region over a 5 day period in Boston, March 2008.

Allow me to give you a brief overview and mission statement for Irish American Hockey Classic Festivities:

Mission Statement

To bring together current as well as retired NHL players, Collegiate and highly regarded business leaders throughout the United States and Canada who are passionate about the game of ice hockey in a friendly and synergistic environment over St. Patrick's Day week-end with the common goal to raise monies for Charities throughout the New England area.

To date, we have 22 teams enrolled in the tournament including many notable teams such as:

„« The Boston Bruins Alumni Team „« Boston College Alumni Team „« Harvard University Alumni Team „« Boston University Alumni Team „« Northeastern University Alumni Team „« WAAF Radio Hockey Team (Greg Hill and Lyndon Byers) „« ESPN Radio Hockey Team, Montreal (PJ Stock) „« Gale International „« InterContinental Development „« Massachusetts State Police (3 separate teams) „« The Black and Blues Police Hockey team „« Team Toronto (Rob Zamuner) „« United State Air Force Academy Alumni Team „« Boston Firefighters Fire on Ice team „« Team Thunderbirds Denver Colorado „« United States Military Academy: West Point Alumni Hockey Team „« Covidien „« Yale Electric „« Glacial Energy „« Mahoney's Nurseries „« US Drug Enforcement Agency Hockey Team „« Dropkick Murphys Hockey Team

To date, we have 72 games scheduled for the dates of March 12 through March 16, 2008 in downtown Boston culminating with a charity game between the winner of the tournament and the Boston Bruins Alumni team at the University of Massachusetts Arena in Boston.

The Irish American Hockey Classic will have over 500 adult Hockey Players from The US and Canada skating for their respective charities as each team designates their individual charity in which they will be raising funds for.

The Irish American Hockey Classic Boston 2008 has 4 seperate divions of play for the 5 day event:

The Ahearn Division is made up of former NHL and AHL hockey players and is the highest caliber of hockey for the tournament.

The Cunniff Division is comprised of former Collegiate hockey players from across the United States and Canada and offers a high pace and highly skilled level of play.

The O'Dwyer division is comprised of many law enforcement agencies across the US and Canada as well as many competitive men’s business league teams that play at competitive pace.

The "Guinness Division" offers the fun and festivities for the good hockey teams that want to enjoy the week festivities in Boston at a slower and less competitive environment that some of the top tier divisions.

As of today's date, current charities include:

The Boston Bruins Charitable Foundation The Ace Bailey Children‘¦s Foundation The Boston Boys and Girls Clubs The Patsy O'Rierdon Foundation The James Michael Curley Recreation Center The Dennis Leary Fire Fighter Foundation Cam Neely Cancer Center The Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drum The Massachusetts State Police Bag Pipe Band

To date, the Irish American Hockey Association has raised over 50K in charitable contributions for this venue including a generous $25K donation from John Hynes from Gale International. All of the Charitable funds raised over the 5 day event will be processed through the Boston Bruins Charitable Foundation. Our very attainable goal to raise over $100,000.00 is half way complete and we've yet to actively work with our media partners in promoting the Irish American Hockey Classic which will aggressively get us over our goal.

Bob Sweeney (President of the Bruins Charitable Foundation) and the Boston Bruins have agreed to have the checks presented between periods of the Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers game on March 15, 2008 for funds raised over the five day event with representatives from the receiving charities as well as representatives from the individual teams and/or sponsors affiliated with Irish American Hockey Classic.

We've partnered with various entertainment partners as well as the Boston Bruins Alumni team for VIP parties, hospitality venues and private receptions scheduled throughout the 5 day event which will include many dignitaries, celebrities and current and former NHL players who have agreed to donate their time and resources for the benefit of the Boston Bruins Charitable Foundation and the other Charities we've identified as recipients of the Goodwill Games.

With PJ Stock (ESPN radio Montreal, Hockey Night in Canada Broadcaster), Lyndon Byers (WAAF) and Billy Fairweather (WTKK Radio) are already exchanging banter on air about the tournament, the all important off ice games have already begun.

As of now, we're nearing capacity levels with some recently added teams including Mass State Police Motorcycle Hockey team, MassPort Hockey team, United States Air Force Academy Alumni Team, Thunderbirds from Colorado, Cambridge Police, Covidien Healthcare, Michael Flaherty (Boston City Council) committed a team as well as a number of other dignitaries and Pro Athletes.

The State Representative (Brian Wallace) and State Senator Jack Hart from South Boston have arranged for a Trolley Bus from the Irish American Hockey Association to participate in the South Boston Parade immediately following the final games on Sunday morning and it certainly will be a great opportunity for Irish American Hockey Classic sponsors to garner some of the goodwill with all of the Charitable monies that will be raised at the tournament.

Please feel free to visit our tournament website www.IrishHockey.com or www.IrishAmericanHockeyAssociation.com and click on the Board link to view the individuals who have donated their time and resources in an effort to raise significant monies for charities near and dear to their hearts.

I can be reached at the Irish American Hockey Associations offices: 888- IRISH -17 or via my cell at any time: 978.423.1004.

We look forward to working with you, your team and your beneficiary charity for the Irish American Ice Hockey Classic 2008.

Kindest regards from the IAIHA.

John Cusack Executive Director Irish American Hockey Association