As a nation, we have all been touched by the tragedy of the Newtown CT shootings. While hundreds of thousands felt the devastation and ruin of Hurricane Sandy, that was a natural disaster that we were warned about and told to plan for days in advance. No one could have predicted the horrific events at the Sandy Hook Elementary School where 26 innocent people were violently taken away from their loved ones and their community.
Newtown is only 19.3 miles from Bridgeport, home of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Webster Bank Arena. While we are all pained by this tragedy, for the Sound Tigers organization it’s very personal.
Sound Tigers’ President Howard Saffan recently said “Sandy Hook Elementary School has been a part of our family, supporting the Sound Tigers at games and community events since the team began calling Bridgeport home, 12 years ago. We are honored to recognize the victims of the heart-breaking events that happened less than 20 miles up the road.”
To honor the lost, beginning today 12/22, in place of each player’s last name, every jersey worn at home beginning on Saturday, Dec. 22 will have the name of one of the 20 children whose life was lost on Dec. 14. The names of the six adults will appear on throughout the games on the digital scoreboard. Any resident of Newtown has been invited to attend the December 22, 26 and 29 home games in Bridgeport free of charge to help participate in honoring and remembering the members of their community.
On Sunday, Jan. 20, members or representatives from each victim’s family will be invited to take home their jerseys off the players’ backs at the conclusion of the contest against the Springfield Falcons. The 3 p.m. game will also feature special promotions, auctions and other fundraisers to support Sandy Hook Elementary School in their rebuilding process.
For those who cannot get to the game, the Sound Tigers will host an online auction beginning Monday, Jan. 7 and ending at midnight, Sunday, Jan. 20 with items that will include a team-signed Team Alfredsson jersey from the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, a John Tavares autographed jersey and an Alex Ovechkin signed jersey. The Sound Tigers will have 26 team-signed jerseys for live auction throughout the game on Sunday, Jan. 20.
It will take months to rebuild the Sandy Hook Elementary School. But the memory of the tragedy will never be erased. Broken hearts and broken families cannot be repaired, but hopefully the knowledge that their loved ones will never be forgotten will give them some form of solace.
Tonight the Sound Tigers host the Adirondack Phantoms at 7 pm. I will still be baking and wrapping. Will Brock Nelson be back in the line-up tonight? Will Nino Niederreiter find the score sheet? Will Riley set a record for PIMs? We’ll just have to wait to find out.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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