Dear Hockey Community:

On Saturday, May 6, 2017, our family will be hosting Hockey4aCure, a 3 on 3 tournament, at the Harbor Center to benefit the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Thanks to the generosity of our previous 140+ participants, sponsors, and numerous volunteers, last year’s inaugural event was great fun and a tremendous success. We were able to raise over $26,000 in support of the JDRF.

As many of you know, our son Gabriel, a Bantam Major hockey player, has Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) – an autoimmune disease in which the body destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. He along with many other children and adults face the burden of managing a lifetime disease. Despite the inconvenience of multiple daily finger pricks, carbohydrate counting, injections, and insulin pump management, those with T1D are able to live full and normal lives. Since Gabriel’s diagnosis in the Fall of 2014, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has been a wonderful support system for our family and is the leading global organization funding T1D research. As successful as the JDRF has been, there is still a gap between where we are now and what is needed to deliver life-changing therapies to those living with the disease and ultimately a real cure.

Originally our tournament was open only to 2002 birth year players. But once again this year, with both an opportunity to utilize the entire Harbor Center and in response to requests for more age groups, we will have divisions for 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 hockey players which will be subject to registering a minimum of 4 teams in each age group.  Teams should be comprised of 5-6 skaters and one goalie. The participation fee for each player is $80, all of which will go directly to the JDRF. Each participant will receive a jersey, a raffle ticket for an autographed NHL jersey (limited to participants only), and lots of food and fun! Each team will play a minimum of 3 twenty-minute cross-ice games. Teams will be fairly bracketed based upon the age group and current level of each player (AAA, AA, etc.) There will be a playoff format for each age / level of play. The games will take place from 9 AM – 4 PM.

We appreciate your continued support and are excited to be continuing the tradition we began last year. We are registering teams now! We are limited to 36 teams. Registration will close March 15, 2017. Please find the registration form attached to this letter. If you have any questions, please contact Keith at kbs40@mac.com or 716-870-5009 or Jennifer at jla_421@hotmail.com or 716-870-5055. We hope that you can join us and have some fun and help turn Type One into Type None!

Sincerely,

Jennifer, Keith, Gabriel, and Sela Schulefand

If you would like to make a general donation to support Hockey4aCure & JDRF, please Click Here to Donate to Hockey4Cure & JDRF