Pros vs. Joes Fundraiser

Former Huntsville Havoc captain and present Bridgton Academy Wolverines head coach Jon Lounsbury is calling on his sport and his friends to lend a hand for a very special lady.

On Saturday, January 9th, 2010, Lounsbury will be hosting a "Pros vs. Joes" charity hockey game and silent auction at Larsen Rink in Winthrop, MA starting at 7 PM. All of the proceeds from the evening will go toward the medical costs for his mother Maryann, who is battling cancer.

Lounsbury and his brothers Brian and Geoff helped to brainstorm for ideas on how to raise money, and a charity hockey event was decided upon.

"Geoff and I said we have a ton of support in town and I know I had a ton of support around me from the places I played so let's do a charity hockey game and see what we can bring in," Jon said. "When I stared spreading the word, friends that I played with in the past have been just outstanding."

They decided on a Pros versus Joes game where the Pros are players who have played minor league hockey. The Joes team will be players, like Geoff, who have played college hockey but never made the jump to the professional ranks.

The current list of pro players reads like a who's who of minor league hockey with an emphasis on the SPHL. Nick Niedert, who played for several SPHL squads and won a championship in the EPHL a year ago, said he would fly into Boston for the game. Former Fayetteville FireAntz players Mike Fournier (a Massachusetts native and current member of the United States Air Force) and Sean Edwards jumped at the chance to help out. Chris Shaw, Tristan Lush, Pat Doherty and Mike O'Sullivan, who all played with Lounsbury in Huntsville, have also committed to play.

The extended SPHL family is also lending its support. Lounsbury said that Fournier and Edwards are looking into ways to get the fans in Fayetteville involved. Huntsville owner Keith Jeffries and the team are sending a Lounsbury jersey up for the silent auction that will accompany the game. The fans in Huntsville are also planning some events to raise money for the cause.

The Lounsbury jersey is just one of many items that have already been promised for the auction. Boston Red Sox - New York Yankees tickets, Boston Bruins tickets and autographed Bruins jerseys are all awaiting the highest bidders with items being added to the list almost on a daily basis. Lounsbury said that any items that people would like to donate for the auction would be gladly and thankfully accepted. There will also be a 50/50 raffle, a DJ and a reception following the game.

Lounsbury was excited about the news that over the past weekend, former Boston University and 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey captain (and Winthrop native) Mike Eruzione has agreed to lend his support by attending the game.

For people who can't make the game but would like to contribute, the family set up a fund. Checks can be made out to "Friends of Maryann" and mailed to 27 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, MA 02152.

Winthropite.com will follow the progress of the event and provide more details as they become available.