11 minute read
Coming together for Tucker
Team Tucker held a 4-on-4 pond hockey tournament behind the home of Jon and Jody De St. Hubert. This year they are holding a Team Tucker Dollar Donation Drive. They will present the funds raised at a Hopkins varsity hockey game Jan. 27.
Coming together for Tucker
by BRYAN ZOLLMAN
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
Tucker Helstrom was a boy living in the Hopkins community. He spent his short 9 ½ years playing sports, laughing with friends and family, and showing love to all, even after cancer forced the amputation of his leg. Tucker showed everyone how to live during his heroic battle with Osteosarcoma. Now, his mother, family, and his “team” are continuing his legacy. Tucker, with his amazing strength and attitude, created an explosion. Team Tucker ensures more children Play, Laugh, and feel Love.
Those are the words on the www. PlayLaughLove.org website in honor of Tucker Helstrom. Since his passing in 2016, his former teammates, the Hopkins community and the hockey community as a whole have come together to raise money for other children and their families who are faced with the daunting task of battling cancer.
From 2018-2020, Jody De St. Hubert and her sons, Cade and Finn, would host a 4-on-4 pond hockey tournament fundraiser in their backyard. A makeshift Stanley Cup made of cardboard and tinfoil was the trophy everyone was chasing, but it was Tucker who they were playing for. Because of Covid, in 2021 Cade and Finn switched their fundraiser to the Team Tucker Dollar Donation Drive. This year they have done it again, and it is getting bigger than ever.
Since becoming Tucker’s Teammates five years ago, Cade and Finn’s donations have grown each year. This year’s Dollar Donation Drive will definitely be the biggest so far. There are 25 teams participating in helping raise money in Tucker’s honor to help others who are going through what Tucker had to endure. The teams will distribute the donations to Tucker’s nonprofit, Team Tucker: Play Laugh Love, before the varsity Hopkins game on Jan. 27.
“We know this will help young kids needing joy while battling sickness,” Cade said.
Tucker & Zucker
Just two weeks before his 9th birthday and during hockey tryouts, the Helstroms found out Tucker had Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer that affects about 400 kids annually.
While in the hospital, former Wild player Jason Zucker paid a visit to the Masonic Children’s Hospital with teammates and walked into Tucker’s room. Zucker just happened to be Tucker’s favorite player. The pair struck up a friendship, and when Tucker was in hospice care just a short eight months after his diagnosis, Jason Zucker and his wife Carly were there.
Tucker inspired them to create their own foundation, Give 16. They have raised and donated money to build the Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio at the U of M Children’s Hospital where sick children can enjoy watching sporting events and daily sports broadcasts.
How close did Zucker and Tucker become? Zucker has a tattoo on his wrist of Tucker’s signature with the words “shoot more.” During their visits, Tucker offered Zucker some advice after watching him pass up taking shots during Wild games. He told him to shoot more. Zucker told the Post-Gazette in Pittsburgh that “shooting more” is more than firing more pucks at the net. It is something that translates to life.
“...off the ice, why hold back? Why not take the chance? Why not try something new? Why not go after your goals? Take your shot at whatever that certain thing is.” Zucker had said. spring of 2016, Tucker was on their baseball team and because he couldn’t play, he became another coach. It was right after he got his leg amputated. “He led us to the championship game,” Cade said. “On the bench he kept us motivated. Even through his hard times he always showed up with a smile on his face and helped keep the team positive.”
It’s memories like those that keeps Tucker alive in the hearts of others, and motivates the De St. Hubert brothers and the Hopkins community to continue to raise as much as they can to help those in need.
How can you help?
Kids who want to do their own fundraisers and become Tucker’s Teammates can visit the PlayLaughLove.org website to get ideas and contact Dana, Tucker’s mom and executive director of Team Tucker. Money raised will benefit children and teens battling life-threatening diseases.
There is also a GoFundMe page set up where people can donate online. The link is https://www.gofundme.com/f/ team-tucker-dollar-donations-2022?qid=f25900b1fc26c03d964532c498bd257a.
Tucker takes a shot in his hospital room during treatment for cancer. Cade and Finn De St. Hubert have been a part of Tucker’s Teammates for five years and this year started the Tucker’s Team Dollar Donation Drive.
Teams/Schools participating in the fundraiser
Wayzata Bantam AA Hopkins Bantam A Hopkins Bantam B2 SLP High School Hopkins Squirt B1 Hopkins Mite 3 Hopkins High School Hopkins Peewee A Delassalle Basketball Hopkins/Park 12B1 Hopkins/Park 15U Breck High School Hockey Winona Senior High Delano Bantams Holy Family HS Boys SLP Bantam AA Hopkins PeeWee B Hopkins Park Girl High School Minnetonka U12 B1 Blue Hopkins Squirt C
To learn more about Tucker and his journey through his war with cancer you can read his story in the book that his mother, Dana, wrote titled There’s Nothing We Can’t Do which is available at https://danacares.org/.
THE LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY
Registration for 2022 NAHL Combines now open
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has the announced the dates and locations for the 2022 Combines, which are now open for registration. The NAHL Combines are driven by the North American Hockey League and operated by the NAHL’s professional staff in order to serve the most valuable asset to hockey… the players.
The goal is to provide the aspiring hockey player to take part in a one-of-a-kind experience that is designed to maximize exposure at grand-scale events that provide a true look and feel of the genuine NAHL Experience. NAHL Combines are carefully designed to provide an Education, Exposure, and Experience for prospects that strive to advance their hockey development at the junior hockey and college level.
In 2022, there are combines for two different age groups.
Junior (2002 to 2006 birth years): Highlight exposure to scouts and junior coaches – Continue education about proven pathway to NCAA hockey via the NAHL’s Ladder of Development – Provide an experience that will help in the player’s next steps in pursuit of playing junior hockey. 16U (2006 to 2008 birth years): Reinforce education about the proven pathway to the NCAA through junior hockey – Emphasize evaluation and further exposure to NAHL and NA3HL coaches and scouts – Provide a realistic experience of a junior tryout.
Register for NAHL Combines at: http://nahl. com/combines/
NAHL Combine Dates and Locations
March 25-27, 2022 – St. Louis, Missouri (Played in conjunction with the NA3HL’s Fraser Cup Championship)
April 1-3, 2022 – Middletown, New Jersey (Played during the same weekend as NAHL New Jersey Titans games)
April 8-10, 2022 – Columbus, Ohio (Great location for Midwest players that traditionally fills up very fast)
April 29-May 1, 2022 – Attleboro, Massachusetts (Great location for Eastern players and traditionally fills up very fast)
May 6-8, 2022 – Southern California (Great location for players on the West Coast and traditionally fills up very fast)
Education ensures the players are provided knowledge about NCAA compliance and eligibility, recruiting processes, the correct and legitimate path to college hockey, as well as an in-depth look at the three different tiers of junior hockey. This includes seminars that discuss the NAHL junior hockey experience, the ladder of development, as well as NCAA compliance seminars.
Exposure means that players compete in front of junior and college scouts and gain additional exposure through NAHL Central Scouting. With NAHL Tryout Camps and NAHL Drafts taking place from May through July, NAHL Combines are a perfect indicator to evaluate just how ready they are for the next step and receive valuable feedback.
Experience means that players from all over North America and Europe will play multiple games against other NAHL and NCAA hockey prospects with team’s coached by staff members from NAHL, NAHL Central Scouting, and NA3HL teams, providing a top notch, professional, and memorable experience.
Five NAHL alumni make Olympic roster
Pat Nagle, who won a Robertson Cup with the St. Louis Bandits back in 2007, is one of five NAHL alumni on the USA Olympic team.
USA Hockey announced the final roster for its 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team tonight, a group that includes 15 current NCAA players, eight European pros and two players from the AHL. The squad will represent the United States at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games Feb. 3-20 in Beijing, China.
The roster includes five players who previously played in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). They are: - David Warsofsky, Defenseman (NTDP, 2007-08) - Nathan Smith, Forward (Aberdeen Wings, 2016-17) - Nick Abruzzese, Forward (New Jersey Titans, 2016-17) - Pat Nagle, Goaltender (St. Louis Bandits, 2006-07) - Nick Shore, Forward (NTDP, 2008-09)
“We’re excited about the roster we’ve put together,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “The Olympics are the biggest stage in sports and it was fun to hear the enthusiasm our players have to represent their country. We’re fortunate to have a deep talent pool -- thanks in part to all the great work of our volunteers in communities across the nation -- and with the mix of players who are part of our team, we’re looking forward to competing for a gold medal in Beijing.”
Nathan Smith (Hudson, Fla./Minnesota State University) is the leading point-getter in the NCAA and is one of nine collegiate players on the roster averaging a point or better per game, including Nick Abruzzese (Slate Hill, N.Y./Harvard University).
A total of seven players will bring NHL experience to the Team USA lineup, led by Nick Shore (Denver, Colo./Sibir/University of Denver), who has played 299 regular-season NHL games (18-41—59), and David Warsofsky (Marshfield, Mass./ERC Ingolstadt/Boston University/55GP, 2-9—11).
Goalie Pat Nagle (Bloomfield Township, Mich./Ferris State University) is currently playing for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms (2.74, .897)
Team Stats
Central Division GP W L PTS 1 Austin Bruins 35 20 12 43 2 Minot Minotauros 36 20 15 41 3 Aberdeen Wings 34 18 14 38 4 North Iowa Bulls 33 16 12 37 5 St. Cloud Norsemen 30 16 13 33 6 Bismarck Bobcats 34 12 19 27
East Division GP W L PTS
1 New Jersey Titans 36 25 10 51 2 Maryland Black Bears 32 20 7 45 3 Johnstown Tomahawks 33 17 12 38 4 Jamestown Rebels 34 17 14 37 5 Northeast Generals 35 18 16 34 6 Maine Nordiques 32 10 19 23 7 Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks 34 9 22 21
Midwest Division GP W L PTS
1 Fairbanks Ice Dogs 37 25 11 51 2 Springfield Jr. Blues 33 22 9 46 3 Anchorage Wolverines 34 19 12 41 4 MN Magicians 35 17 14 38 5 Chippewa Steel 35 17 16 36 6 MN Wilderness 36 17 18 35 7 Janesville Jets 34 16 17 33 8 Kenai River Brown Bears 36 7 24 19
South Division GP W L PTS 1 New Mexico Ice Wolves 34 22 10 46 2 Lone Star Brahmas 33 18 9 42 3 Odessa Jackalopes 34 19 12 41 4 Amarillo Wranglers 33 19 12 40 5 Wichita Falls Warriors 34 15 13 36 6 Shreveport Mudbugs 32 14 14 32 7 Corpus Christi IceRays 35 15 18 32 8 El Paso Rhinos 33 13 17 29
Top 20 Scorers
Name GP W L PTS 1 Cade Neilson 32 17 29 46 2 Alexander Malinowski 35 17 27 44 3 Cy LeClerc 34 21 22 43 4 Jake Black 33 22 20 42 5 Tommy Bannister 36 16 26 42 6 Cole Dubicki 36 13 29 42 7 Kristaps Skrastins 32 20 21 41 8 Brendan Dumas 36 14 26 40 9 Ryan Bottrill 32 10 30 40 10 Huston Karpman 33 12 27 39 11 Chris Carroll 31 6 33 39 12 Nicholas Niemo 33 17 21 38 13 Gavin Best 35 14 24 38 14 Talon Sigurdson 34 25 12 37 15 Ryan Robinson 34 18 19 37 16 David Andreychuk 33 14 23 37 17 Hunter Longhi 35 16 20 36 18 Branden Piku 32 15 21 36 19 Anthony Calafiore 29 14 22 36 20 Ryan O’Neill 28 12 24 36
