Raise Big Bucks with Chuck A Puck!

                                               THE CHUCK A PUCK ADVANTAGE
     
     Searching for the right team fundraiser, that is hopefully fun and not too taxing, can be taxing enough.  Since my son started playing hockey, our teams have sold... let's see if I can remember them all...okay...here goes; candles, wreaths,  pies, chocolate bars,  jewelry, raffle tickets, flowers, frames, stickers and entertainment books.  We've cooked, baked and crafted.  Plus,  how many of you have repeatedly raided friends and relatives' garages for their bottles and cans?  Didn't round up enough?  Then, you round up the team to make rounds in the neighborhoods and hope the soccer and football teams didn't beat you to the doorsteps.  I know I'm missing a few money raising tactics.  After all these years of hawking,  it's now all a blur.
      We've already done several fundraisers for my daughter's team this year.  Something every team has to do if you want to ease the burden of tournament costs, trophies, and treats.  We did okay with our bake good and food sale at a recent tournament at our rink.  It brought us a couple of hundred dollars closer to our goal. That was worth our time and effort.  As for our Subway sales day?  Not so much.  Great concept. Tell folks lined up at the cash register to mention the team and we get a credit to be turned into cash. Unfortunately folks who were hungry for a sub, just weren't biting.
    The most successful so far this season, and every season for that matter,  has been Chuck A Puck with the Syracuse Crunch.  Last Saturday, our kids suited up in jerseys. Good hearted Crunch fans, who walked by our wide-eyed adorable little hockey players,  couldn't resist their charm and smiles.  $1.00 a puck, 3 bucks for 5 with a chance to win a Tully's gift card.  The Crunch made it easy for us.  They supplied all the soft numbered pucks for fans to toss onto the ice when given the cue, plus the sheets to keep track of puck purchasers. The kids used several different strategies to sell and convince folks to support youth hockey. They were so good, some people handed them money and wanted nothing in return.  The defenseman, forwards and goalie turned out to be a good team of salesman and great representatives of our hockey organization.   At the end of the night, we all had smiles on our faces with a good amount raised and good memories for our kids.  Thank you Syracuse Crunch! I would pick this fundraiser, over picking up bottles and cans any season!   This hockey mom gives Chuck A Puck, an A+ !  

Celebrity Street Crunch Game

So now it's Crunch time for me!  Okay, so it looks easy from where I sit and yes, I'm one of those annoying "experts" who yells from the stands telling my kids when to shoot, when to pass, when to skate!  The tables are about to be turned.  I think I must have lost my mind.   I've actually accepted an invitation to play in the Celebrity Street Crunch Game at Alliance Bank Stadium - Date: Saturday, July 23rd @ 10:30 a.m.  So, if you're looking for some entertainment, ( I promise I can provide that!), please join us.  I'll be looking for top shelf, where grandma keeps the cookies, running with my elbows high,  while hearing  my children in the stands,  probably yelling...come on mom...DROP THE GLOVES! Did I mention this will be my first EVER hockey game?  Stay tuned.   

FYI- -- Kids game starts @ 9 a.m.

- Celebrity game will feature members of the media pitted against one another in a street hockey game

Was Syracuse Crunch defenseman Nathan Paetsch ever a puck hog?

Book Signing for The Puck Hog

'Puck Hog' signing at Creekside
'Puck Hog' signing at Creekside


Crunch Defenseman Nathan Paetsch and WSYR-TV News Anchor Christie Casciano will be there
January 07, 2011
The Syracuse Crunch announced that defenseman Nathan Paetsch and WSYR-TV news anchor Christie Casciano will be signing copies of Casciano's new book, "The Puck Hog," at Creekside Books in Skaneateles on Wednesday, Jan. 12 from 5 to 6 p.m. Creekside Books is located at 35 Fennell St. in Skaneateles. Please call (315) 685-0379 for directions.
"The Puck Hog" is a children's book featuring a fictional youth hockey team named the Crunch. The story focuses on Eddie, a puck-hogging teammate who only cares about his own stats. A team trip to a Syracuse Crunch game and a pivotal moment on the ice leads to kids learning about the importance of teamwork and unselfishness.
The Crunch continue their season-high seven-game road trip with a 7:05 p.m. match-up at Binghamton on Friday, Jan. 7 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Syracuse returns home to The Oncenter War Memorial Arena on Jan.15 for a 7:30 p.m. contest vs. rival Rochester. Season and single-game tickets for the 2010-11 season are on sale and can be purchased by calling the Crunch office at 473- 4444, or by stopping by the Crunch office at The Oncenter War Memorial Arena, located at 800 South State Street in downtown Syracuse.

Teaming up with The Syracuse Crunch

I'm thrilled to have the support of the Syracuse Crunch hockey team in my endeavor to promote and encourage our children to read more and read often. Some Crunch magic has been weaved into The Puck Hog story line, and the release of the book should time out well with the unveiling of the new look for our favorite AHL team, with new parent club, the Anaheim Ducks. Still waiting for a firm date on the release of the book. Stay tuned!

'Barry' Exciting Chance to meet Melrose

This just in..hockey superstar Barry Melrose will be making a special appearance at the grand opening of the Dunkin' Donuts store, in Lansing ( about an hour and 30 minute drive from Syracuse at 32 Peruville Road). Mark the date on your calender folks; Saturday June 26 from 11am-2pm. The press release from Dunkin' Donuts says the National Hockey League veteran and current ESPN commentator will be available for photographs and autographs with customers at the grand opening ceremonies. Melrose, a resident of Glens Falls, appears regularly on SportsCenter and ESPNNEWS. As the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings in the early 90's, his debut season saw the team advance to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in franchise history. Excitement is brewing!
http://syracusecrunch.com/News/Detail/2838

How We Rocked The Roofless Rink

Photo courtesy of hockey dad Steve Ratliff

We were all in awe of the magnificence of the event that honored the roots and heritage of hockey and the fact we were part of the history-making roaring crowd of 21,508. A big victory for the Syracuse Crunch, but we all scored some incredible memories.

These photos were taken from the stands by hockey mom Dawn Zimmer.... spectacular!

The 2010 Hockey Dad Grillmaster

PRE-GAME WARMUPS

Bill fires up the grill

Next, we saw our team use good strategy to battle the outdoor elements.

How do you conquer a biting breeze?

With a team huddle!

While others had grueling long waits on the road and in lines, we slipped into the Fairgrounds parking lot mid-morning with total ease and set up for our tailgating extravaganza. Marinated chicken, grilled steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, meatball subs, chips & dip, hot drinks galore and portable heaters. 30 degrees? Who even noticed? Well, maybe we noticed when our kids teeth started to chatter and they bit into some frozen chocolate chip cookies?

Hats off to our team manager who has managed to skillfully and flawlessly pull off all of the hectic scheduling for our tournaments/games and is always pulling us all together! Amy is our glue, plus she's a really good cook. That's a big plus for hockey tailgaters.

Great memories for hockey for hockey moms & dads.

Besides the steady, brisk breeze and rooting for our favorite Crunch players and team, there were plenty of other cool aspects of the first outdoor game in American League history. The skydiver who amazed us all by swooping into the stadium to drop (and slip) the ceremonial puck. The super sleek fighter jets racing and roaring above us and the rousing performance of the national anthem by country star Jessie James. It was also a hoot to see the variety of ways hockey fans were keeping warm. From the wool-lined viking caps and fuzzy mohawks to the layered Crunch Jersey's from days gone by. Our boys also remarked how cool it was that everyone they've ever met through hockey, from parents to players to league officials were all together, all under one big roofless rink.

MEET THE MOMS

Or as our photographer, hockey dad Mike Ancillotti refers to us, meet the UHMS (Ultimate Hockey Moms Society)

Playing with Picard

Four days before they make AHL history on the outdoor ice at the Fairgrounds, Crunch players Alexandre Picard, Nick Holden and Brent Regner take time out to skate indoors at the Baldwinsville Ice Arena with our Lysander Bantam boys.

Special thanks to hockey dad Steve Ratliff for making this happen and for capturing these memorable moments on ice.

Love the Stanley Cup group shot!

" Skating with the Syracuse Crunch players today was amazing....it really lifted me up after not making the Sectionals. They seemed excited about their upcoming Outdoor Game, and wanted to know if any of us were going. Being an avid Crunch fan you know I replied YES!! It was really nice for professional hockey players to take the time to skate with our team...they didn't have to, but I am glad they did! Thanks Alex, Brent & Nick, you guys ROCK!"

John Ratliff
Lysander Bantam Travel Team Forward

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"Skating with the crunch players was one of the most fun things that we did all year. It was a great experience skating with those guys. Watching some of the moves that they could do was amazing. The way that they can stick handle going full speed was great to see. As soon as we stepped on the ice the fun began. First we did a couple of drills to get Josh warmed up. Then, we did some 2-1 and 3-2's. After that, we did some small ice games. We played 3-3 inside the blue lines and whomever scored 5 goals won and the losers had to do push ups. After the 3-3, we did a shootout. If you scored, you stayed in the next round. Lastly, we did another shootout. If you didn't score, you stay and the last person who didn't score had to pick up the pucks."

Matthew Zandri

Lysander Bantam Travel Team Forward