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Big Assist IV is a Big Hit & Chris Kreider is a Gem

July 12, 2012, 12:57 PM ET [56 Comments]
Julie Robenhymer
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About a month ago, I was asked by a player if I was going to the Big Assist, having no idea what it was I said no. Then another guy asked and then another and eventually, I thought it might be a good idea to find out just exactly what the Big Assist was. Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, it's much more than a charity hockey game spearheaded by Ryan Shannon to raise money for the Obie-Harrington-Howes Foundation and their efforts to assist people coping with spinal cord injuries, it's a hidden gem.

For the the fourth year, NHL, AHL, European League, NCAA and USHL players who are native to, train in or play in the southern Connecticut/NYC area or are friends with those who do, came to Stamford, CT to play summer hockey at its finest. With the exception of one linesman who forgot that he was just there for decoration and blew a beautiful stretch pass from Max Pacioretty to Martin St Louis offsides, the 2000+ in attendance were inspired to ohh and ahh the entire game with every dangle, snipe and dipsy-doodle.

Former Yale captain and current Bridgeport Sound Tiger, Sean Backman, who received the most cheers during player introductions, was able to show off his speed, soft hands and underrated flow that quickly reminded me why I loved watching so many Yale games two years ago as he and fellow former Bulldog Marc Arcobello showed off their skills once again last night.

While neither technically scored, they were fun to watch especially in the waining seconds of the final period when Arcobello skated in alone against former BC star and Kelly Cup Champion with the ECHL Florida Everblades, John Muse, stopped right in front of him and flipped the puck up and over him for a top shelf beauty of a goal that ultimately didn't count.

Max Pacioretty, wearing his Canadiens gear, but USA Hockey helmet, had a heck of a goal from the high slot as did Hamilton Bulldog's forward, Phil DeSimone, but it was Cam Atkinson of the Columbus Blue Jackets who had the goal of the night when he deked the pants off Torey Krug for his third goal of the game giving Team White a 9-4 advantage.

Not to be outdone was Islanders forward and Cornell grad, Matt Moulson who scored four goals including a beautiful breakaway and earned MVP honors. While seeing all this skill on display was entertaining, it also made you realize why hitting and the physical aspect of the game is so important to success. Watching guys battle for pucks in the corner just wasn't the same.

In addition to the game itself, there was a silent auction with everything from signed hats, sticks, pucks and jerseys from players throughout the NHL to awesome additions to any man cave or sports bar like the Stanley Cup Final and All Star Game banners that hang throughout the various rinks, the light post banners and even the press conference back drops. The biggest money makers were three items from Milford, CT native, Stanley Cup Champion, Conn Smythe winner and product of the University of Massachusetts, Jonathan Quick. His blocker, glove and the light post banner with his picture on it brought in close to $2000.

The real winners in all of this were the kids clamoring for autographs, especially if you were a Ranger fan.

After the game, the players posed for a team picture and then headed towards the locker rooms to shower and change....except for one. Chris Kreider saw a kid along the boards waving a pen at him. He skated over and went up and down that side of the rink signing everything handed to him with the exception of a Notre Dame hat and a Hockey Canada hat to which he politely smiled and shook his head while handing it back over the glass.



Forty-five minutes later he made his way back to the bench where a few volunteers were waiting for a picture. At this point, all of the other players had showered, changed and left the rink and while the ice was being resurfaced behind him, Kreider continued to sign autographs and take pictures with anyone and everyone who wanted one as a new line formed near the entrance to the bench.

He was gracious and funny and teased one kid pretty hard after handing him a Brodeur jersey to sign and another one with a Bruins hat (He politely declined signing both, but offered to sign something else). He made one kid take a picture sideways so you couldn't see that he was wearing a Maple Leafs t-shirt and jokingly asked if it was appropriate for him to take a picture with a kid decked out in Islanders gear.

Close to an hour and a half after the game had ended, Kreider had signed every autograph and taken every picture asked of him. Still in his gear and with a fresh sheet of ice, he asked the rink manager, Ken, if it was ok if he went out and skated a bit more. The game was only two 15 minute periods and since he hadn't skated since the Rangers lost to the Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals, he hadn't quite scratched that itch.

After watching Kreider sign all those autographs, the rink manager just smiled and said, "For a class act like you, I will gladly do the ice again in the morning. Would you like a net too?" Beaming like one of the little boys who had just gotten his autograph, Kreider said, "Yes, please" and went to the locker room to get his stick and gloves. One of the high school volunteers ran to get a rental pair of skates while others grabbed a stick to join him on the ice. Thirty minutes later, Kreider finally hit the showers.

I can't imagine there is one person at that rink last night who is not a Chris Kreider fan this morning and who won't root like crazy for him this coming season when the Rangers hit the ice.

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As you hopefully already know, I produce the College Hockey Spotlight during the season and by popular demand, I'm highlighting the game show segments throughout the summer. Here's how well the boys from Bowling Green know each other....



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I'll be doing another mailbag blog later this week. If you have questions about the NHL, NCAA or international competitions, let me know because I might have answers....


Julie
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