Top bidder will skate with old Pens

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Area hockey fans are invited to make a bid to participate in Sunday’s fund-raiser game for Jason Baird at the Chevrolet Centre.

The game, featuring former NHL stars, is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. as part of a day-long event to raise money for Baird, a former member of the Youngstown SteelHounds who was burned in a lawnmower accident in July.

Some of the celebrities scheduled to play are Dave Hanson of the “Slap Shot” films; former Pittsburgh Penguins Phil Bourque, Ken Wregget, Troy Loney, Mark Kachowski and Steve Poapst; Mike Rupp of the New Jersey Devils; David Oliver, formerly with the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars; former Youngstown SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski (Washington Capitals); and a host of minor league players.

Visit www.basingerauctions.com, to make a bid to play in the game.

The SteelHounds’ will supply a jersey, but the winning fan must provide the other equipment.

Money from the winning bid will go to the Baird family, along with all gate receipts and other income generated from live and silent auctions that will begin at 1:30 p.m. and from a post-game auction of the players’ jerseys. Gates open at 1 p.m.

While the auctions are being held, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms will play an intrasquad game starting at 2 p.m.

“This will give anyone who ever wanted to play hockey with NHL players a unique opportunity,” said Kaminski, who is spearheading the fund-raiser along with Cindy Piedra, president of the SteelHounds Booster Club.

“It is a great opportunity to come into the locker room and hang around with the guys and get out there and have a lot of fun,” Kaminski said. “This is a good opportunity to meet some old Pittsburgh Penguins.”

Bids will be taken on line until Saturday at noon.

Two recent additions to play in the charity game are Ryan Bennett, who played for the SteelHounds last year, and Chris Tebbs, a minor league player.

The Phantoms, a junior developmental team that plays in the North American Hockey League and is coached by Bob Mainhardt, is playing to help the cause.

“They want to get involved to help in the fund-raiser and give kids an opportunity to play at the Centre,” Kaminski said.

Mainhardt, who has spent five seasons as the Phantoms’ coach, said 28 of his players will take part in the intrasquad game. He will coach in the charity game.

Key returning players for the Phantoms are center John Meo, right wing Kyle Verbeek, left defenseman Robert Harrison, right defenseman Carl Nielson and goaltenders Garrett Bartus and Jordan Tibbett.

Piedra has led the collection of auction items for the fund-raiser.

“We have about almost 100 baskets for the Chinese auction,” she said. “We are going to have lot of stuff. The people have stepped up to help. The NHL has stepped up to help.”

Some of the autographed items for the auctions are Kelly Pavlik boxing gloves, Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) matted painting, Cleveland Browns and Brady Quinn footballs, and Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings) and Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames) jerseys.

Piedra was in Erie, Pa., on Tuesday attending a Baird fund-raiser sponsored by the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, one of Baird’s former teams. Baird played for the Otters from 1997-2001.

The Otters announced on their Web site that the benefit raised $30,000.