10 countries in 10 days world tour celebrates NHLPA Goals & Dreams 10th anniversary
NHLPA Goals & Dreams to donate more than $125,000 worth of hockey equipment …CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada to produce one-hour TV show on world tour
The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today that the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund will celebrate its 10th anniversary this November by embarking on a “10 countries in 10 days” world tour, donating $125,000 worth of hockey equipment to grassroots hockey programs along the way.
NHLPA Goals & Dreams Ambassadors are embarking on an ambitious, yet extremely meaningful journey to visit “10 countries in 10 days”, beginning in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden on November 13th and making stops in Finland, Russia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia, Germany, the United States, and concluding in Toronto, Canada on November 22nd.
“This initiative is all about giving back, which is why we are continuing to donate even more equipment to kids who need our help during this one-of-a-kind tour,” said NHLPA Goals & Dreams Ambassador and former NHL player Rob Zamuner. “NHLPA members are very proud of the NHLPA Goals & Dreams program, now in its 10th year. We are looking forward to spreading the word so more children can pick up a stick and play the great game of hockey.”
Zamuner, along with fellow NHLPA Goals & Dreams Ambassador and former NHL player P.J. Stock, will join NHLPA Goals & Dreams Chairman, Devin Smith and Program Manager, Matt Langen for the full “10 countries in 10 days” world tour.
During the world tour, NHLPA Goals & Dreams will donate 25 sets of brand-new hockey equipment to a local grassroots hockey program in each country that is visited, for a total of 250 complete sets, worth approximately $125,000. In most locations, a retired NHL player from each of the 10 destination countries will also participate in the festivities taking place in his native country, including: Pavel Bure, Arturs Irbe, Jyrki Lumme, Jaroslav Modry, Markus Naslund, Martin Rucinsky, Martin Straka, Esa Tikkanen and more.
“I’m thrilled that NHLPA Goals & Dreams is kicking off the world tour in Ornskoldsvik,” says former NHL All-Star Markus Naslund, who has been actively involved in NHLPA Goals & Dreams for several years and will also be joining the tour for stops in Helsinki and Moscow, in addition to the first stop in his hometown in Sweden. “This tour is a great example of how NHLPA Goals & Dreams helps develop grassroots hockey programs in my home country of Sweden, and all around the world.”
“It’s an honour to represent CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and NHLPA Goals & Dreams on this world tour,” said P.J. Stock, studio analyst, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. “This program is truly impressive, and our unique broadcast will showcase the generosity that NHL players have exhibited for the past decade.”
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada is sending a film crew to document the entire trip and produce a one-hour television special, to be aired in December, which will capture the key elements and spirit of the tour.
“CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada supports the greatest athletes in the world and their efforts to give back to the game,” said Sherali Najak, executive producer, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. “It’s important that people know how much these players care about community and work to grow the sport. We are looking forward to capturing this amazing race of 10 countries in 10 days.”
After travelling a total distance of 19,603 kilometers, the tour will conclude with a celebration at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Sunday, November 22nd, the site where NHLPA Goals & Dreams was first launched 10 years ago. NHL Alumni, players from the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, and children who are receiving equipment from their hockey heroes will attend the wrap-up event.
NHLPA GOALS & DREAMS “10 COUNTRIES IN 10 DAYS” WORLD TOUR:
———————————————————
Day// Date// Location// NHL Player(s)
— —- ——– ————-
1 Fri// Nov. 13th// Ornskoldsvik, Sweden// Zamuner, Stock, Naslund
2 Sat// Nov. 14th // Helsinki, Finland// Zamuner, Stock, Lumme, Naslund
3 Sun// Nov. 15th// Moscow, Russia// Zamuner, Stock, Bure, Naslund
4 Mon// Nov. 16th// Riga, Latvia// Zamuner, Stock, Irbe
5 Tues// Nov. 17th// Prague, Czech Republic// Zamuner, Stock, Modry, Rucinsky, Straka
6 Wed// Nov. 18th// Trnava, Slovakia// Zamuner, Stock, TBD
7 Thur// Nov. 19th// Sarajevo, Bosnia// Zamuner, Stock, TBD
8 Fri// Nov. 20th// Frankfurt, Germany// Zamuner, Stock, TBD
9 Sat// Nov. 21st// New York, USA// Zamuner, TBD
10 Sun// Nov. 22nd// Toronto, Canada// Zamuner, Stock,Islanders, Leafs
NHLPA Goals & Dreams:
In 1999, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) launched the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 10 years, more than 350 former and current NHLPA members have been personally involved in helping facilitate NHLPA Goals & Dreams donations in either their hometown or their NHL playing cities. The players’ program has donated full sets of hockey equipment to more than 13,000 economically disadvantaged children and assisted with upgrades and the building of hundreds of arenas, in 21 countries world-wide. Most donated hockey equipment is re-used by the recipients, which has furthered the cause and provided more than 40,000 children with the opportunity to play the great sport of hockey. The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund is funded solely by the members of the NHLPA and is the largest grassroots hockey program in the world.
Source: National Hockey League Players’ Association
SIRIUS XM Radio announces extensive broadcast coverage of 2009-10 NHL Season
Live play-by-play of NHL games will be available to XM subscribers and SIRIUS subscribers with the “Best of XM” NHL Home Ice channel offers hockey talk and analysis 365 days a year
SIRIUS XM Radio will offer listeners around the country comprehensive coverage of the 2009-10 NHL season with an extensive schedule of live play-by-play of NHL games and daily hockey talk on the NHL Home Ice channel.
Starting with tonight’s Opening Night games and through the Stanley Cup Final, XM listeners will have access to live play-by-play of every regular season and playoff game on XM channels 204-209. SIRIUS subscribers with the “Best of XM” programming package will get most regular season games and every NHL postseason game on SIRIUS channels 208-220.
In addition to live games, SIRIUS XM offers the 24/7 hockey talk radio channel, NHL Home Ice, on XM channel 204 and SIRIUS channel 208 with the “Best of XM.” NHL Home Ice features live play-by-play, plus hockey talk, news and analysis every day of the year.
NHL Home Ice features the weekly live show, NHL Hour, hosted by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and a rotation of League executives, including Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Senior Executive VP of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. The hour-long show, co-hosted by former NHL player Bill Clement, debuts today and airs every Thursday (4:00 pm ET). NHL Hour provides listeners with the latest news and events from the highest levels of the NHL and encourages fans to submit questions by calling 1-877-NHL-ON-XM or emailing HOMEICE@xmradio.ca.
NHL fans can also tune in to SIRIUS channel 122 for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Radio (weekdays, 4:00 – 7:00 pm ET), hosted by Jeff Marek, Kelly Hrudey, Cassie Campbell Pascall, Craig Simpson and Scott Morrison.
On SIRUS XM Sports Nation, SIRIUS channel 122 and XM channel 143, former New York Rangers forward Ron Duguay and former New Jersey Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko host their weekly show, Ice Breakers (Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm ET), a lifestyle-themed show that features the duo’s thoughts on the NHL, lifestyle, entertainment and more.
Source: SIRIUS XM Radio
SIRIUS XM Radio Delivers Bountiful Sports Buffet for Memorial Day Weekend
SIRIUS XM offers motorsports tripleheader on Sunday, May 24, with F1(TM) Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600
Throughout the weekend listeners nationwide get live play-by-play from the racetrack, diamond, ice, hardwood, golf course and soccer pitch
SIRIUS XM Radio announced that it will offer sports fans a full lineup of sports programming over Memorial Day Weekend, featuring live play-by-play action from IndyCar Series racing, Formula One(TM), NASCAR, Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL playoffs, PGA TOUR, English Premier League soccer and college baseball.
MOTORSPORTS: On Sunday, May 24, SIRIUS XM will broadcast the ultimate auto racing trifecta, featuring three of the biggest events on the motorsports calendar: the Formula One(TM) Grand Prix de Monaco (8:00 am ET on SIRIUS channel 126 and XM channel 242), the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar Series race (1:00 pm ET, XM channel 145 and SIRIUS channel 211 (“Best of XM”)), and the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race (5:45 pm ET, SIRIUS channel 128 and XM channel 128 (“Best of SIRIUS”)).
SIRIUS XM will also broadcast the Carquest Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday, May 23 (7:30 pm ET, SIRIUS channel 128 and XM channel 128 (“Best of SIRIUS”)).
NBA: SIRIUS XM will broadcast every game of the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals, carrying the team radio broadcasts of the Cavaliers, Magic, Lakers and Nuggets. (XM channels 232 and 233, SIRIUS channels 219 and 220 (“Best of XM”)). Visit www.xmradio.com/nba and www.sirius.com/nba for listings.
NHL: SIRIUS XM will also broadcast every game of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, carrying the team radio broadcasts of the Penguins, Hurricanes, Red Wings and Blackhawks (XM channels 204 and 205, SIRIUS channels 208, 211 and 212 (“Best of XM”)). Visit www.xmradio.com/nhl and www.sirius.com/nhl for listings.
MLB: XM listeners will get every Major League Baseball game from coast-to-coast throughout the weekend on XM channels 175 to 189. (Schedule available at www.xmradio.com/mlb). Fans can also tune in to MLB Home Plate, the only radio channel dedicated to covering MLB seven days a week, 365 days a year, for daily baseball talk and analysis (XM channel 175 and SIRIUS channel 210 (“Best of XM”)).
PGA: SIRIUS XM will offer live hole-by-hole coverage of the HP Byron Nelson Championship PGA TOUR event this Thursday, May 21, through Sunday, May 24, on The PGA TOUR Network (XM channel 146 and SIRIUS channel 209 (“Best of XM”)).
EPL: On Sunday, May 24, SIRIUS XM will broadcast two English Premier League soccer matches: Chelsea v. Sunderland (11:00 am ET, SIRIUS channel 125 and XM channel 102 (“Best of SIRIUS”)) and Newcastle United v. Aston Villa (11:00 am ET, SIRIUS channel 126 and XM channel 103 (“Best of SIRIUS”)).
NCAA Baseball: On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, XM subscribers and SIRIUS subscribers with the “Best of XM” can hear college baseball conference tournament games from the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten and SEC. Visit www.sirius.com/collegesports and www.xmradio.com/collegesports for listings.
Mad Dog Radio: On Memorial Day, May 25, Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, host of Mad Dog Unleashed on SIRIUS XM’s Mad Dog Radio channel (SIRIUS channel 123 and XM channel 144) will host a two-hour special examining baseball’s all-time greatest teams. The program, airing at 8:00 am ET, 1:00 pm ET, 6:00 pm ET and 11:00 pm ET, will determine the greatest all-time team from each of the 30 MLB franchises and will feature interviews with baseball historians and some of the game’s greatest players, including Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, 9-time all-star catcher and 1971 NL MVP Joe Torre, 16-time Gold Glove-winner Jim Kaat and others. The 30 highlighted teams, plus two wild card teams, will be seeded into a tournament bracket posted at www.sirius.com/maddogbaseball and on Tuesday, May 26, fans can log on and begin casting their votes to determine the greatest baseball team of all-time.
World’s Largest Multi-Sporting Event Set for Sydney, Australia in October 2009
Competitors Encouraged to Join Ranks of More Than 25,000 Set to Participate in Seventh World Masters Games
Sydney will be the home of the seventh edition of the World Masters Games, an international sporting event boasting more competitors than the Summer Olympic Games. Held in an international city every four years and sanctioned by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA), the games are set to take place in Sydney from October 10 – 18, 2009.
Thousands of participants from more than 100 countries will travel to Sydney to compete in the most accessible and populous international sporting event. Medals will be awarded in age categories in 28 official sports ranging from archery, basketball and cycling to tennis, volleyball and weightlifting.
Following a motto of “fit, fun and forever young,” the Games is actively searching for sport enthusiasts and competitors to make Sydney the most distinct and successful games yet. Unlike in the Olympic Games, competitors represent themselves or teams from a variety of countries.
“Sydney is thrilled to host the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games, a spectacular and inclusive event that has built a true world community over the years,” said Margy Osmond, Chair of the Sydney 2009 World Masters Organising Committee (SWMGOC). “The Games participants’ passion, unique backgrounds, ages and stories are what make this international event so special. Sydney is committed to increasing the diversity of the competitors attending in 2009.”
The Games are open to “everyday athletes” and only requires registrants to meet a minimum age requirement for the particular sport (between 25 and 35 years of age, depending on the sport) and register online at 2009worldmasters.com for a $220 fee.
The 28 sports at the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games are archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, canoe/kayak, cycling, diving, football, golf, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, orienteering, rowing, rugby union, sailing, shooting, softball, squash, surf life saving, swimming, table tennis, tennis, touch football, volleyball, water polo and weightlifting.
In preparation for the Games – Sydney, no stranger to high-profile international sporting events, is set to showcase over 70 venues, including Sydney Olympic Park and well-known Olympic sites in Bankstown, Blacktown, Liverpool and Penrith. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as a multitude of festivities and social centres will welcome competitors and friends, families and spectators.
***U.S. and Canadian athletes and everyday sports enthusiasts are encouraged to register for the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games at www.2009worldmasters.com.
Source: World Masters Games
Free Sports Betting Site to be the First to Legally Pay-Out in Cash
BetAgainstMe.com announced the launch of their new website for sports betting. The free site will be the first sports betting site where players play against each other to legally win large cash prizes in the US.
For years now, sports fans have been turned away from online sports betting due to legal issues, security concerns and the danger of losing money. With the launch of BetAgainstMe.com, this will all change. The new sports betting site allows bettors to win large cash prizes without risking a single cent of their own money.
To get started, players simply create a new account at BetAgainstMe.com. All players receive $10,000 of fictional play money in their account at the beginning of each week. Throughout the week that follows, players will attempt to increase their bankroll by betting against the spread on real sports events. Depending on the season, sports will include football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.
At the end of the week the player who has accumulated the most fictional play money in their account by winning against the spread on their bets will receive the weekly prize money in real cash. Rather than playing against the house, players compete against the other players. There will also be opportunities for daily and grand prizes. The BetAgainstMe.com social network page allows users to add friends, and see what other players are betting on. Since there’s no house to pay, there’s no juice to spread around and no fees to be paid. Everything is 100 percent free and legal in the US!