Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Bucci, Badger Alums Unite for Charity

Second Blake Geoffrion Hockey Classic set for June 26 in Madison to support UW Health Burn Center.

Bucci, Badger Alums Unite for Charity
Blake Geoffrion is the lone Hobey winner in Wisconsin history.

Blake Geoffrion, who won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as a senior at Wisconsin in 2010, will welcome back fellow alums and ESPN’s John Buccigross as host of the second annual Blake Geoffrion Hockey Classic on Friday, June 26, at LaBahn Arena. Two NHL stars – Joe Pavelski and Derek Stepan – will serve as team captains at the event, which raises money for the UW Health Burn Center.

“The Hockey Classic is a way to bring together Badger hockey alumni and fans to have fun for a great cause,” said Geoffrion who got to know the UW Health Burn Center director Dr. Lee Faucher while he was playing at UW. They share a great passion for hockey.

“As I learned more about the burn center through my friendship with Dr. Faucher, I knew that I wanted to do something to help patients and their families.”

Buccigross and Geoffrion worked together calling college hockey games for ESPN in 2014-15. Nearly two years ago Buccigross wrote a powerful feature for ESPN.com on the injury that ended Geoffrion’s NHL career.

The exhibition will feature a star-studded group of former Badgers – 22 UW alums played in the NHL this season – plus U.S. Women’s National Team stars Hilary Knight and Jessie Vetter.

A portion of funds raised at last year’s Blake Geoffrion Hockey Classic were used to purchase a distraction machine that helps soothe young patients during uncomfortable wound-care treatments. The money also supports leading-edge research to improve patient care including ways to regenerate skin and develop skin substitutes.

The exhibition game will be played June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at LaBahn Arena. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for youth and seniors (ages 2-18 & 55+) and all proceeds benefit the UW Health Burn Center.

Hockey Classic tickets are available with the purchase of Wisconsin hockey season tickets starting Friday, May 22 at 8:30 a.m. Those returning season ticket holders will be able to request up to four complimentary Blake Geoffrion Hockey Classic postgame Meet-and-Greet passes. Tickets to the Hockey Classic will then be available to the general public online starting on Monday, May 25.