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Former NHL All-Star Leads Support Movement

By Minnesota Hockey, 11/19/13, 11:30AM CST

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Theo Fleury will make an apperance at the Sauk Rapids High School this Saturday from 3-4 pm to raise funds for youth hockey scholarships.

In today’s media driven culture, professional athletes are often considered role models whether they want to be or not. The spotlight shines on their every move. This Saturday, Theo Fleury, reminds people how that spotlight can be used to benefit the greater good by using his status and experiences to benefit youth hockey players in Minnesota.

Fleury, who appeared in seven NHL All-Star Games, won a Stanley Cup with the Flames and is a Canadian Gold Medalist, is set to appear in Sauk Rapids on Saturday, November 23rd from 3 pm – 4 pm at the local high school to benefit the Minnesota Youth Foundation.  Saturday’s event will be the conclusion of what has been a whirlwind-type movement of support for youth hockey players in central Minnesota.

And it all started thanks to a spur of the moment conversation on Twitter.

Brent Pakkala’s daughter, Callie, had made a new friend, Hannah Trelfa, over the past year after playing hockey and softball together.  When Callie mentioned in passing that Hannah wouldn’t be able to play the coming hockey season, Pakkala was immediately troubled. He discussed the situation briefly with Hannah’s mother, discovering that even with the assistance of the association’s scholarship program she could only afford to allow one of her three daughters to play hockey.

That night Pakkala was up late contemplating ideas to help the Trelfas overcome their financial challenges despite a fast-approaching registration deadline.  It was then he noticed his favorite hockey player of all-time and a known supporter of kids in need, Theo Fleury, was on Twitter.  Pakkala sent him a tweet, expecting little more than a link to a foundation website.  Much to Pakkala’s surprise, Fleury was not only quick to respond but was willing to offer personal assistance, promoting the story to all of his Twitter followers.

Pakkala’s heartfelt mission to assist the Trelfa family quickly gained momentum online thanks to Fleury’s support.  Within a couple of days, three individuals had stepped forward to contribute over $1,800, enabling all of the Trelfas to play this year and beyond.

Great story, right? It probably could have ended at this point and been one of those fairy-tale endings that Disney movies portray so well.

It didn’t stop there though. Fleury took it one step further in a follow up call with Pakkala, offering to fly to Sauk Rapids in order to help additional families in the area.

That offer will culminate this weekend as Fleury and several of the contributors will be traveling to Sauk Rapids to meet the Trelfa family and participate in Saturday’s benefit. There will also be a silent auction, a presentation by Fleury on his experiences and an autograph session.

“The reason this is so near and dear to my heart is that I grew up very poor. If it wasn’t for the people in my small community, helping with fees and traveling and making sure I was always fed, there wouldn’t be any Theo Fleury,” said Fleury in an interview with The St. Cloud Times. “I’m very blessed and fortunate that so many amazing people allowed me to be a hockey player. I know today, if I was playing (youth) hockey, there’s no way my parents would have been able to afford for me to play hockey.

For more information, visit theofleurymnvisit.org. Tickets are $20 and can be ordered in advance or at the door.  Proceeds will go to the Minnesota Youth Foundation to assist youth hockey programs throughout the area, except for the first $500 which will be donated to the youth hockey association that sells the most tickets.

A special thanks to everyone supporting this event as you are playing a key role in growing the game here in Minnesota.  Thank you to Brent Pakkala and Theo Fleury for your vision and dedication to turn an act of generosity into a greater cause!  Thank you Jill Weinstein, Darryl Foulds and Stacey Midge for the initial support of the Trefla family and continued interest in growing hockey!  Thank you to the local sponsors of the event, Kenney Printing, Beyond the Bleachers Photography, Tenvoorde Ford, Gold'n Plump, Schultz Soft Water, St. Cloud Morning Optimist Club and Buffalo Wild Wings!  And thank you to everyone that will be supporting the future stars of this game by attending this event!

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