Thank you to all the Team Stahl players and coaches for your efforts in helping to raise money for veterans as part of the Hat Trick for Heroes fundraising events. Congratulations on holding your own against the Detroit Red Wing Alumni on Nov. 12, 2016
They might not have won the game, but all the Team Stahl Hockey players and coaches did an excellent job helping to raise money for the Michigan Disabled American Veterans. If you are looking for a more detailed accounting of the Nov. 12, 2016 hockey game between Team Stahl and the Detroit Red Wing Alumni, Jan Starr did an excellent job describing the scene. I will let Jan tell you all about it in this very accurate and descriptive report. Thank you Jan, very well written.
By Jan Starr: The St. Clair Shores Arena stands were packed with over 1100 screaming Team Stahls’ fans from Stephens, Sterling Heights and MEC as the Detroit Red Wing Alumni pulled out a close 9 – 7 win over Team Stahl Saturday in the “Hat Trick for Heroes” finale. Lyla Paschke, a Brownell Middle Schooler, had barely finished singing the National Anthem before Co-Captain Dan Stahl gave Stahls’ the 1-0 lead with a “wake up” goal in the second annual Team Stahl and Red Wing Alumni game. There was a lot of up and down hockey and early scoring before things turned defensive in the action packed first 25 minute period which ended with the Red Wings ahead 5 – 3. Stahls’ opened the second period explosively – tying things up on goals by Co-Captain Paul Sabatini and Marc Callert. The Wings then went on 3 goal run by Joey Kocur, Jiri Fischer and Brian Smolinski making things 8 – 5 before Russ Corey scored his second goal and tightened things to 8 – 6. John Finstrom added the final Wings goal and Sabatini rifled in the last one for Stahls’ – with the final 9 – 7 Wings. The entire Team Stahls’ roster charged the Wings goal in the last minute and the Wings Joey Kocur dumped their net with 39 seconds to go to freeze things for good. The 1980 Olympic Champion Mark Wells / Ken Morrow coached Team Stahls’ scoring was evenly distributed: Paul Sabatini 2 goals, 1 assist. Russ Corey 2 goals. John Merola 1 goal, 1 assist. Dan Stahl and Mark Callert each notched 1 goal with Mark Merola (2), Will Campbell and Dan Hummel adding assists. Ken Cronin was strong in goal for Stahls’ with several spectacular saves (and flops) against the John O’Grodnick, Petr Klima, Joey Kocur, Al Iafrate, Sergei Samsonov, Jiri Fischer led Red Wings. Eddie Mio turned away close to 40 Stahls’ shots in goal for the Wings and Sergei Samsonov had the puck dangling like a “YoYo”. Joe Burt and Patrick Boyle proved extra muscle for Stahls’ with Boyle getting away with a late trip on the Wings Lorne Knauft. Steven Jackson assisted Coaches Wells and Morrow running the bench. Carl Agosta’s pulsating sound track had the fans stomping and Christian Herominski’s awesome commentary kept the funs pumped. “Score – O” was played between periods and one very happy fan won the 50 / 50. The Michigan Disabled American Veterans were the beneficiaries of all funds raised at the game and from all the “Hat Trick for Heroes” events.
Over 1100 fans attended the game on Nov 12, 2016 at the St. Clair Shores Ice Arena.
Thank you to everyone who came and supported the veterans at the Hat Trick for Heroes finale event on Nov 12, 2016
Mary and her father enjoying the game.
It was great that old friend and screen printing industry icon Riley Hopkins could attend all three events for the Hat Trick for Heroes.
Thank you to all the Detroit Red Wings Alumni players who made the game entertaining!
Good game fellas! See you next year!
A special thank you to Team Stahls Captain Paul Sabatini for all your work behind the scenes.
Behind the scenes, calling the plays.
Team captain Dan Stahl with hockey player in training, AC Stahl.
