Worcester Sharks Opening Night Celebration Invite and Ticket

Like I wrote for the AHL All-Star Program and Ticket, the Worcester Sharks were the first organization in the community that I contacted to try and make a connection with when I started at Hope Lodge. I was put in touch with Mike Myers, and he immediately told me Hope Lodge could get free tickets to any game we wanted. Awesome.

The Sharks also helped out when Mike designed a pink goalie mask for Thomas Greiss to wear for the month of October. It was auctioned off at $5000, with all money going to Hope Lodge.

A couple of months later, we had a 17-year-old guest staying at Hope Lodge. He wanted to go to a Sharks game, but they didn’t have any home games scheduled for when he was here. So, Mike Myers and Sharks player Riley Armstrong came to visit him at Hope Lodge. It was great, and you can read that whole story here.

I wondered if Hope Lodge would still get free tickets when the AHL All-Star game came to Worcester two years ago, and we did. I think the highlight for me was watching former BC Eagle Cory Schneider setting a record by making 18 saves on 19 shots in the All-Star Skills competition.

Not surprisingly, the Sharks helped Hope Lodge with Skating for Hope. Finz made two appearances, and the Sharks provided games and prizes to keep the event going.

Tonight, they continued their generous donations by giving me an invite to the 2011-2012 opening night pre-game celebration and tickets to the game. I took my friend Patrick, and we each got a goodie bag with a Sharks pennant, schedule magnet, and t-shirt. There was also free food and dessert, and Fins was walking around greeting everyone. The only thing we had to pay for was drinks; and the $4.00 sodas seemed pricy even after getting everything else for free.

The game had just about everything I could ask for: A lot of goals, fights, and 4 former BC players (Benn Ferriero, Nick Petrecki, Stephen Gionta, Peter Harrold). The Sharks beat the Albany Devils 6-1, and after I beat Patrick 10-2 in his first game of PS3 NHL12 Hockey. Thanks again, Sharks!