Our 1st Quarter Newsletter is here.

Greetings!

In this issue, the Winter Classic lives up to its name, a local sled hockey player makes it to the Olympics, and a night to remember for a special friend of the Dawgs.

Awesome Pond Hockey = Winter Classic

In mid-January, The Winter Classic was front and center in Silverthorne. The annual tournament, presented by DREP, attracts hundreds of pond hockey players and celebrities.

This year we raised a tournament record $125,000 for sick and injured hockey players and their families.

Jack Keith entertained at the Saturday night gala. Party goers also enjoyed fabulous food provided by Mountain Lyon Café and Sauce on the Blue.

The Voice of Dawg Nation, Manny Furtado, was the auctioneer at the wildly successful auction. One of a kind autographed items and more led to spirited bidding.

We even had a marriage proposal. Matt Leinbach asked and Taylor Crocker said yes!

The Dawgs were privileged to support three amazing families. Tim Coen (in blue) suffered a severe head injury in a fall. He was discharged from rehab in December, but faces a long road to a full recovery. The Dawgs presented Tim and his family a check for $20,000 to help with medical expenses.

Tim is a hockey player. His wife, Jamilee, coached Summit hockey girls' teams for many years. Tim, Jamilee and their boys Hayden and Hudson are a valuable part of the Summit Hockey community.

In November, Rob Fees died in a motorcycle accident. “Rob Fees was a son, a husband, a father, a coach, a 23 year veteran and a DAWG,” said Dawg Nation Founder and CEO Martin Richardson. The Dawgs presented the family led by Rob's father Randy, (center) with a check for $20,000.

"Rob helped found our Colorado Springs Dawgs and was the architect behind the Monument Meltdown Tournament that helps families in need," praised Richardson.

Nathan Abelein, with wife Merrelyn, has battled COVID since September, and at one point was put into an induced coma. His recovery continues. The Dawgs honored the Abeleins with a check for $10,000.

Meet the Winter Classic Winning Teams

Platinum Division

Loan Rangers Blue

Gold Division

Wizards

Silver Division

Make Hockey Great Again

Bronze Division

Arby’s Meat Mountains

Copper Division

Here for the Beer

Fighting Back

The Marshall Fire devastated the cities of Superior and Louisville, leaving many homeless. With your tremendous support and generosity, we have raised over $105,000 to provide financial relief for hockey families there.

Dawg Nation has donated the first $10,000 of the Hockey Family Fund designed to help our hockey community members affected in the region. We know the Rough Riders, Boulder Bison, and many more hockey families who live in the area have been affected. DAWG Nation, in coordination with the Boulder Hockey Club and the Long Hockey Community, has already distributed $80,000 to twenty hockey families. We will be making further allocations to identified families in May.

You can still help.

Donate HERE

Paying it Forward

Every year, Post University’s hockey team hosts a charity game to benefit an organization that matters to them. This year it was Dawg Nation!

Martin is joined by (left to right) Post University's Jack Engdahl, Mike Freeman, Post defenceman Michael Karas and Dawg Nation Board Chair Greg Clinard. The Dawgs thank Engdahl who led the organizing committee and created a fabulous weekend for us!

You will remember Michael and his sister Marina lost both of their parents to cancer and recently received a check from Dawg Nation to help them carry on with their lives and education.

Cap dropped the ceremonial first puck in Waterbury, Connecticut, before Post University took on Stonehill. The game and related events raised over $5,000 for Dawg Nation!

The Dawgs Applaud You!

Your donations on Colorado Gives Day in December have surpassed $65,000! That is an alltime record. Our goal was $35,000. Thank you to all who contributed. It allows Dawg Nation to continue to aid those in the community that need our support.

A Helping Paw

Giving back is what Dawg Nation is all about. In 11 years we've helped over 200 families with more than $2,800,000 in recipient aid. Thank you to all that donate, sponsor, bid, and continue to support. We simply can’t do this without you!

Sean Bolduc is a Colorado native and played hockey for Palmer High School. Following high school, Sean took his goaltending skills to Connecticut playing for the Danbury Hat Tricks. In October, Sean needed emergency brain surgery and was later diagnosed with meningitis. Five more surgeries followed.

Sean finally made it home to Colorado. In February, the Dawgs teamed with Colorado College and the NCHC for a memorable night as the Tigers took on Miami University in Colorado Springs. The Dawgs presented Sean and the family a check for $10,750 to help with rising medical costs.

Sean called out the lineup for CC and then dropped the first puck. After the game, Sean celebrated an overtime win over Miami with Tigers’ coach Kris Mayotte.

In November, the Dawgs remembered Gregg Faus who died of a heart attack. Gregg was an avid hockey player. “It’s a mystery when the world loses one of the good guys at such a young age," said Martin Richardson, "But it’s a comfort to see all the lives that were touched by this tremendous soul.”

Wife Anissa, with sons Gavin (on Anissa's right) and Braeden (to her left) accept the Dawgs check for $36,500. Both boys are up and coming hockey players. Since the presentation, your generosity helped bump this check up to $51,000.

In November, Marty caught up with several members of the Colorado Sled Hockey community. The Dawgs surprised Glen Carter (right) with a check that will buy a new wheelchair. In the front row, Glen's Colorado Sled Hockey teammates P.J. Stoiber (left) and Pierce Grandchamp share the moment.

In December, Patrick Donnelly and his family were guests of the Dawgs at an Avs Watch Party. Patrick is waiting for a heart transplant. The Dawgs presented him with a check for $11,000 to help with the enormous expenses.

Most important, Dawg Nation Ambassador Nigel Richardson (second from right), was there to recount his experiences in receiving a heart transplant. He joined with Dawg Nation Ambassador and cancer survivor Andy Gerrie (next to Patrick), to provide Patrick with stories of hope. Dawg Nation Executive Director Mike Freeman (right) enjoys the moment after presenting the check.

On September 19, Elle and Nate Woudstra celebrated the birth of twins. Wytze and Felix were born over 6 weeks prematurely and spent their early days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Denver hospital.

Elle and Nate stayed at a short-term rental close to the hospital to give them more time with the boys. Nate is a youth player coach and plays on the Colorado Grey Wolves hockey team. Elle has played rec league hockey.

The good news is the Woudstra twins are now home. With many expenses the Grey Wolves and the Dawgs provided $13,000 to help. Mike Freeman with Woudstra's teammate Mark Shanley (right) present the check to Nate.

Craig Stinehour underwent emergency surgery in October and was also diagnosed with COVID. Craig, with his granddaughter, works as a general contractor and loves being a hockey referee. The Dawgs recently helped cover Craig's medical expenses with a check for $10,000.

If you have been around Dawg Nation, you probably know Christina Montoya. She is the heart and soul of the Landsharks hockey team in Westminster, Colorado, and has contributed to Dawg Nation in many ways.

Toya, with boyfriend Dana Robbins, has experienced a long battle with her health including cancer, and has been unable to consistently play the sport she has loved since she was a teenager.

Christina is her mother’s caretaker. Lila was recently diagnosed with cancer. As you can imagine, Christina’s medical bills are enormous. The Dawgs are always in Toya's corner and helped with a check for $10,500.

Dan Turner suffered a heart attack during a hockey game. In the dressing room afterwards, he wasn't feeling well. Teammates reacted quickly and called paramedics. Dan, with friends Jan Hejda and Milan Hejduk, is a faithful supporter of Dawg Nation. He enjoys coaching his four grandchildren in hockey. With medical bills coming due, the Dawgs helped Dan with a check for $10,000.

Read More Incredible Stories HERE

Puck, Yes!

Dawg Nation Board Member Matt Cope played collegiate hockey at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh. He recently learned that the Pittsburgh Rhinos Blind Hockey Club needed $1,200 for the special hockey pucks that allow the blind to play. Presto! Dawg Nation bought the pucks for the Rhinos!

Beijing Gold is on His Mind

The Malik Jones story keeps getting better. Malik, with pal Dave Repsher, is 19 and was born in Aurora, Colorado. His legs were amputated at birth. Malik is one of the best sled hockey players in the world and is on the U.S. Paralympic team that takes the ice in March in China looking for gold.

Malik has played in many of our Dawg Nation sled events. Recently the Dawgs presented Malik with a check for $3,000 for training and other expenses.

Big Road Trip for a Big Guy

In January, the Dawgs along with the Anaheim Ducks and Triumph Together created a night to remember for young Cooper Tippett and his family including dad Brian and mom Christine. The Coopers were guests at a Ducks game at the Honda Center.

Cooper was born with Morquio Syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting bones, organs and physical movement. Triumph Together works to connect athletes with kids at Children's Hospitals.

Cooper had his Dawgs sweater in full view when he popped up on National TV as Ducks rookie phenom Trevor Zegras handed him his stick!

Call Him a Hall of Famer

December 19 was a special night for NHL great and current Colorado Avalanche analyst Peter McNab. He was inducted into the USA Hockey Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. Peter the Great has been battling cancer and was unable to attend, but his daughter and grandson were there to bring home the moment. Joining them were (left to right) Avs Producer Doug Menzies, Cap, Avs broadcaster Marc Moser and Avs director Mike Fox.

Tune In!

Join us on Season Two for interviews and more with exciting guests and memorable stories. The podcasts, co-hosted by Mike and Marty, were an immediate hit with hockey fans when they premiered in 2020.

Our latest episode features Denver University Hockey head coach David Carle. Listen as David talks of overcoming adversity to rise to the top of the NCAA coaching ranks.

Be sure to catch these recent DawgPods. At 12, Samantha Hiller decided she wanted to be a hockey official. Now she’s one of the first 10 women working in the AHL.

John Michael Liles was drafted by the Avalanche. He played 7 seasons in Colorado and over 800 games in the NHL. He's currently a studio analyst with the Avs and a huge supporter of Dawg Nation.

HEAR All the Podcasts HERE

Coming Up

Plan to play in the 2^nd Annual Jonny O’s 3 on 3 Affton Bash presented by Dawg Nation and our friends in the St. Louis branch.

Jon Orelt, with Mikeat last year's Stand Up for Dawg Nation Comedy Night, played hockey until an injury in 2020 left him paralyzed from mid-chest down.

In April of last year Cap and Mike were in St. Louis to help Jon’s family, friends and teammates stage a 3 on 3 indoor hockey tournament. They raised $55,000.

Proceeds from the tournament will help Jon (with dad Al and Mike and Marty at the tournament last year) in his recovery as well as others selected by Dawg Nation.

The 3 on 3 tournament near St. Louis has multiple divisions based on skill level. There is a three-game guarantee, souvenir bags for all participants, a silent auction, BBQ and much more!