Hockey, media, Wings team up for Craig Charron July 23

Rochester Americans hockey legends past and present will play a game at Frontier Field on Friday, July 23^rd. However, this won’t be the city’s first Winter Classic outdoor hockey game. The Amerks Alumni will trade in their sticks for bats in a charity softball game against local media and local hockey coaches to raise money for Craig “Sharky” Charron.

The softball game will begin at 5:30 p.m. prior to the Rochester Red Wings' 7:05 game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Amerks alum and San Jose Sharks forward Scott Nichol will join Rochester natives Brian Gionta (Montreal) and Ryan Callahan (NY Rangers) to sign autographs for fans that make a $5.00 donation to Craig Charron.

Fans can also make donations at the Alumni table or participate in a raffle for hockey memorabilia, which will take place in-between the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Included in the raffle prizes: a limited edition Team Morneau t-shirt, bobblehead and an autographed Justin Morneau Red Wings baseball card, courtesy of JustinMorneau.com; and a 2008-09 Amerks team card set with Mike Brodeur insert card, and a 2003-04 Amerks team set featuring Ryan Miller, Derek Roy and Jason Pominville from CollectorfestMonthly.com.

Additionally, the alumni will sell 50/50 raffle tickets with the drawing scheduled for after the game prior to the fireworks.

The Amerks softball team includes Jason Cipolla, Daryl Drader, Rory Fitzpatrick, Ray Maluta, Brian McKinnon, Nichol, and Amerks Hall of Famers Randy Cunneyworth, Dan Frawley, Jody Gage, Jim Hofford, Steve Langdon, Scott Metcalfe, Gates Orlando and Jim Wiemer. They will be joined by Gionta, Callahan and Red Wings Hall of Famer Don Fazio. Coaching the team is Red Wings Hall of Famer and World Series winning manager Joe Altobelli.

The Media/Coaches team features the likes of News 10 NBC anchor Rich Funke, 13WHAM News Sports Director Mike Catalana, WBZA radio personality Pete Kennedy and Barry Beck, morning host of Kimberly and Beck on 98.9 The Buzz. Legendary McQuaid Jesuit Head Hockey Coach Al Vyverberg, MonroeCommunity College Head Coach Craig Chamberlain and MCC Assistant Coach Frank Lattuca will also play in the softball game.

Craig, 42, is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. He and his wife, Wendy, reside in Spencerport with their four children: Jackson (13), Nicholas (12) and Hunter Anne (9) and Emma (seven months old). Charron played in 335 games (1995-98, 2000-02) with Rochester and was the 44th member inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame. “Sharky” was a two-time winner of the team’s MVP award, scoring title, McCulloch Trophy for community service, Fairand O’Neill Award for sportsmanship. In 1995-96, he led the club with 43 goals, 52 assists and 95 points, earned team MVP honors and helped the Amerks win their sixth Calder Cup.

The alumni have established a website to take donations: www.CraigCharron.com.

To order tickets for the July 18 or any upcoming home game call 423-WING (9464) and order with a credit card, visit the Frontier Field Ticket Office during regular hours, or order on-line. Click here for Ticket Office hours, prices, seating chart and more information on ordering tickets.

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