News release
23 March 2007
Team Donates Ice For Juvenile Diabetes Fundraiser
Elmira, NY The Elmira Jackals continued their strong presence in the local community this week by participating in Thursdays 3rd Annual JDRF Fundraiser at First Arena.
The Jackals played their part in Thursdays annual Drop-In Hockey game to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund in several ways. First the team and First Arena donated the ice time of both rinks, the Main Arena and Rec Rink, for the two-hour drop in hockey round robin. Then members of the current Jackals roster, Frank Littlejohn, Chris Mann, Dave Lemanowicz, Rob Chappell and Nick Harloff worked as the referees for the event. More than 50 players of all abilities, including many local business owners, were on hand for the 4-team showdown, taking place during the First Arenas usual Tuesday/Thursday Noon-2 pm afternoon Adult Drop-In Hockey.
Attendance for the fundraiser has continued to grow at an exponential rate, along with the total money raised. This year the group of hockey impresarios raised just over $3,000, with all proceeds going directly to the JDRF, helping to improve research to find a cure for this awful disease.
Throughout the 2006-07 hockey season the Jackals have been all over the Twin Tiers in efforts to give back to the community that continues to show great support for their team. Elmira Jackals players and their mascot Blade have combined for well over 60 appearances through the Elmira-Corning area during the season. Elmiras first Spaghetti On Ice event, where the players skated around to served spaghetti dinners to fans on the ice, raised almost $10,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. They also participated in local charity programs originated outside of the Jackals front office, including the Stuff the Bus event with the Chemung County Sheriffs Department.
Continuing the theme of supporting local children, the Jackals have made countless visits to area schools, visiting classrooms and gym classes as they stress the importance of education and physical fitness. They also appeared at many after school programs including the YMCA, YWCA, Southside Community Center and many more. One of the Jackals most successful trips was playing two floor hockey games with the Elsmere Eagles of the GST BOCES program. The team also hosted numerous public skates with the players including post game skates after Sunday home games, skates and clinics with the Elmira Youth Hockey Association and also skates with the Corning Youth Hockey group.
Their fearless and trusty mascot Blade has been all over Central New York, going from Binghamton to Buffalo to promote the Jackals and their proud sponsors. Blade was a guest of the Binghamton Senators for their mascot Maxs birthday. He helped the Jackals players pass out turkeys at Thanksgiving, he appeared in several local parades, he visited all the area hospitals and continues to help out in any way possible.