Benefit hockey game a success
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Rachel Lee drops the Ceremonial Puck while her uncle Steve Brideau (left) of the Ash-West Community Blueliners and Rob Gagnon of the Ashburnham-Westminster Educators take the face-off. Lee's family was chosen as the benefit family for the Seventh Annual Community Benefit Hockey Game held at Cushing's Iorio Arena on Saturday, March 29. JOURNAL PHOTO/JEFFREY W. BOUDREAU

More than 1,000 residents filled Irio Arena on the Cushing Academy campus in Ashburnham, creating what everyone agrees was an immense success for the Seventh Annual Community Benefit Hockey Game.

"We have far exceeded our expectations," said David Uminski, one of the organizers of the event and a player.

Uminski's team, which is comprised of members of the staff of the Ashburnham- Westminster Regional Schools and Cushing Academy, lost in their face-off against local and state police officers. The Blueliners won the game 8-5.

"We were actually thrilled they only beat us by three," Uminski said.

Uminski said he was pretty proud that they didn't lose by more, because the Blueliners were assisted by two former professional hockey players and a former Olympic skater.

Ashburnham Fire Lt. Rick Sicard assists Rachel Lee out of an Ashburnham fire engine as she arrives at the Seventh Annual Community Benefit Hockey Game being held in her honor. Lee, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year, was recognized prior to the game and all the proceeds from the game will be going to her family. JOURNAL PHOTO/JEFFREY W. BOUDREAU

The two teams played each other on Saturday, March 29, to help raise money for Rachel Lee, a fourth-grader at John R. Briggs Elementary School in Ashburnham, who has an inoperable brain tumor.

The benefit hockey game is more than just a simple hockey game to raise money. The game also features a number of special guests and other events.

"The event was what we set out for it to be. It was more than just hockey," Uminski said.

This year's star guest was former New England Patriots player Joe Andruzzi, who spoke to the crowd as well as to the family. Andruzzi, who suffered from non-Hodgkins lymphoma (the same type of cancer as co-organizer David Napolitano's wife had) and befriended a young man named C.J. Buckley in 2002 before Buckley died from inoperable brain cancer.

Andruzzi, who came with his family, sat with the Lee family to watch the hockey game and then signed autographs for fans after the game.

Other guests included the Worcester Tornadoes' Twister mascot, their manager Dave Smith, and some players, as well as the mascot Finz from the Worcester Sharks.

The Chuck-A-Puck Contest was a success and Ashburnham Police Chief Loring Barrett won the on-ice Scooter Race, which features local police and firefighters. Barrett won last year too.

Lee, whose extended family, lives throughout the area helped gather good for the Chinese auction and helped to sell tickets.

Cushing Academy went above and beyond, according to Uminski. He said that they helped by providing extra staff both inside the stadium. And Fitchburg State College donated a van so parking could be expanded and visitors wouldn't have to walk to the stadium.

"All of these extra things to make the night go off smoothly, were great," Uminski said.

He also said Lincoln Stiles, Sr., of Ashburnham, dropped off shopping bags full of baked goods from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School students.

"We never asked. He just knew it was happening and said this might help. This shows it is a community event," Uminski said.

For more pictures of the game check out Page 10.