Pathfinder Bank has been named the event sponsor of the Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation Golf & Hockey Classic to be held August 1-3 in Oswego, according to event organizer Kevin Caraccioli.
This marks the fourth year that Pathfinder Bank has been the event’s major sponsor.
“We greatly appreciate Pathfinder Bank’s continued commitment to Erik and the Dream Big Foundation,” said Caraccioli. “We look forward to another great weekend and cannot thank Pathfinder Bank enough for the support they provide.”
The Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation was established in 2007 by Oswego-native, NHL hockey player, Stanley Cup Champion, and U.S. Olympian Erik Cole. The non-profit organization was created to support youth hockey programs, as well as children who are suffering from cancer and other diseases.
According to Caraccioli, this year’s golf classic, scheduled for August 3rd at the Oswego Country Club, will showcase Cole, as well as other NHL players, national and regional media, and local celebrities. Celebrities committed thus far include: Carolina Hurricane Teammate Joe Corvo; Dallas Stars Defenseman Andrew Hutchinson; Oswego-native and AHL Worcester Shark T.J. Fox; Carolina Hurricanes Play-by-Play Television Announcer John Forslund, who also works regularly for the NHL on Versus during the playoffs; Ray Maluta, USA National Sled Hockey Team Head Coach; Brian Tatum, Director of Team Operations for the Carolina Hurricanes; and XM Radio’s Shawn Levigne, Producer of XM’s Home Ice “Hockey This Morning” Show.
The event will be a four-person captain-n-crew format and include 18 holes of golf at the Oswego Country Club, golf cart, lunch, cocktail party, dinner and auction.
The field of teams for both the golf tournament and youth hockey classic have been filled according to Caraccioli. Cocktail/dinner/silent auction tickets for Monday evening are still available and can be purchased for $45 per person.
Breakfast, registration and goodie bag pickup, as well as use of the Oswego Country Club Driving Range and Putting Green will be available from 9-11 a.m. Team photos and celebrity introductions will be held at 10:00 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. shotgun start. Cocktails and a silent auction begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner, an awards presentation, and live auction starting at 6 p.m.
Tim Horton’s has agreed to provide a light breakfast and coffee, and for the fourth straight year, the Oswego Sub Shop will serve lunch at the turn during the golf tournament.
According to Caraccioli, as in year’s past there will also be a variety of on course activities, as well as silent auction items and raffle prizes. Erik’s team, the Carolina Hurricanes has figured heavily in this event, as well as the NHL, Bauer Hockey, and local supporters including Pathfinder Bank.
In addition to the golf tournament, the 3-on-3 Youth Hockey Classic returns to the Campus Center Ice Arena at SUNY Oswego on Saturday, August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd as part of the weekend activities. The event will feature many of the area’s top Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee and Bantam players, and include 2 games on Saturday and 2 games on Sunday.
Also, new to this year’s hockey weekend will be a US National Sled Hockey Team Exhibition Game on Sunday, August 2nd from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the SUNY Oswego Campus Center Ice Arena.
Members of the USA National Sled Hockey Team will play against a team of former Oswego State Men’s Hockey players. Admission is free of charge, however, donations of $5 per person or $10 per family is suggested to help offset expenses for hosting the sled hockey team.
The event is in conjunction with the Dream Big Foundation and Liverpool-based non-profit Move Along, Inc., who partnered with USA Hockey and Oswego-native Rick Pratt, the New York State Amateur Hockey Association Program Coordinator, and an affiliate of the USA Hockey Program.
Move Along, Inc., and founder/Oswego-native Greg Callen, provide adaptive recreational opportunities for people who live with physical disabilities in Central New York.
The USA Paralympic Sled Hockey Team just recently announced their 2009-10 team, and will be making a run at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.
This past year’s team captured its first-ever world title at the 2009 International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic. USA player Andy Yohe scored with 11 seconds left in the gold-medal game to secure the win.
Joining head coach Ray Maluta, of Rochester, NY, for the Dream Big Exhibition Game, will be players: Mike Blabac (Buffalo, NY), Chris Manns (Buffalo, NY), Andy Yohe (Bettendorf, Iowa), Brad Emmerson (Amherst, NY), Alexi Salamone (Grand Island, NY), and Adam Page (Lancaster, NY). In addition, Mason Newbold, the Junior National Player for the past 3 years in the Western USA Sled League will be on hand, and Rochester-native Tom Hagerty, the USA Sled Team’s intermediate goal tender, and a member of the Buffalo Sabres Sled Hockey Organization for the past 10 years. His 2007 Sabres Intermediate Team won the Ontario Sled Hockey League Championship.
“What a great opportunity to see some incredible hockey this weekend,” said Cole. “We appreciate the partnerships with Pathfinder Bank, Bauer Hockey, Oswego Minor Hockey Association, Oswego Blue Line Club, USA Hockey, Rick Pratt, SUNY Oswego, and Move Along, Inc., and hope the community will come out and support these great athletes.”
For more information regarding the Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation Golf & Hockey Classic, please call (315) 343-1939 or email [email protected].
Pathfinder Bank is a New York State chartered savings bank headquartered in Oswego, whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Bank has seven full-service offices located in Oswego, Fulton, Mexico, Lacona and Central Square.
missing or outdated ad config
