What do hockey rinks, the NHL, Olympic players, kids and a global data protection and information management company have in common? The answer is Hockey Helping Kids.
For the 17th consecutive year, Commvault, through its annual Hockey Helping Kids program, will raise funds and awareness for deserving local children's charities at events at NHL arenas. The four events taking place this 2016-2017 NHL Season are at NHL arenas in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Columbus. The games will feature NHL hockey greats and alumni as well as Olympic athletes, such as Alana Blahoski, 1998 Olympic Winter Hockey gold medalist and Lisa Chesson, 2010 Olympic Winter Games Hockey silver medalist, who will both be at the upcoming game Tuesday night between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Each of the events will occur at an NHL rink and includes:
A "Junior Varsity (JV)" game including children from local charities, members of local charitable organizations, Commvault partners and customers, and frequently former NHL and veteran Olympic players.
A "Varsity" game with Commvault's Employee Hockey Team playing against another team, often consisting of veteran Olympic and former NHL players.
A reception and dinner where game participants and other invited guests watch that night's NHL game together while raising money for local children's charities through auctions, raffles and other activities. All proceeds from these activities go to the local children's charities that have been identified in each city.
Since its inception, Commvault's Hockey Helping Kids program has helped raise more than $1.2 million for a significant number of charities at 48 events at NHL arenas across the country.
This year, the program will raise money for organizations including: the Long Island Chapter of Autism Speaks (Brooklyn), Philadelphia PowerPlay, Coyotes Alumni for Disabled Youth Hockey (Phoenix), Ohio SLED Hockey(Columbus) and Ohio Special Hockey (Columbus).
"We are honored to again be the beneficiary of Commvault's Hockey Helping Program and to take part in such a unique and fun experience for children and families affected by autism," said Edward J. Nitkewics, Vice Chair of the Long Island Chapter of Autism Speaks. "We are so grateful to Commvault and its staff of volunteers and sponsors who have come together to help us in our mission to raise awareness and funds for autism."
Sponsors this year include: Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Windows Server, ShopRite, RBA, SHI, NetApp, Arrow, Arrosoft Solutions and Harrington Search.
"Our employees' dedication to the Hockey Helping Kids program over the past 17 years fills me with pride," said N. Robert Hammer, Chairman, President and CEO, Commvault. "In addition to raising money and awareness for children's charities, the program's ability to provide children with special needs and other disadvantages the opportunity to play hockey on the same ice as that skated on by their NHL heroes truly exemplifies Commvault's belief in the value of service - not just to our partners and customers, but to our communities as well."
"It is an honor to sponsor Commvault's Hockey Helping Kids again this year," said John DarConte, Field Sales, Microsoft. "Commvault and Microsoft's long partnership has yielded tremendous value to our joint customers over the years, and it is a pleasure for us to further build on this partnership by working with Commvault to raise funds and awareness for these great local children's charities as well."
The 2016-2017 Hockey Helping Kids season schedule includes the following games:
Tuesday, Dec. 6 - Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.: New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers
Wednesday, Jan. 4 - Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pa.: Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers
Thursday, Feb. 9 - Gila River Arena, Phoenix, Ariz.: Arizona Coyotes vs. Montreal Canadians
Friday, Nov. 18 - Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. New York Rangers
"I won't pretend that getting on the ice and playing against Commvault's employee hockey team at Hockey Helping Kids events does not result in me sometimes waking up the morning after with a few minor aches and pains," said Brian Bellows, a member of the 1993 Stanley Cup winning Montreal Canadiens. "However, when I then think of the funds raised for the local children's charities at these events, and the smiles on the kids' faces as they find themselves skating with former NHL players and Olympic veterans on the NHL arena ice, those aches and pains quickly fade away, to be replaced by a smile on my own face."