Our 1st Quarter Newsletter is here.

Greetings!

We celebrate the return of pond hockey, introduce you to a group of unforgettable heroes and get ready for some big laughs.

Pond Hockey Returns

in a Big Way

Pond hockey was taken to a stratospheric level when skaters converged on Silverthorne in January for the Dawg Nation Winter Classic.

The Winter Classic was a true collaboration between Dawg Nation and Dave and Amanda Repsher and the vast network called DREP.

Over $100,000 was raised which will continue to let the Dawgs do what we do best and that is to support those in need in the Colorado hockey community.

“The donation of time, material, money, auction items, sweat and even a little blood is what has come to define us," enthused Dawg Nation CEO Martin Richardson.

A Dawg Nation auction is beyond compare. Fans bid on a Vail ski day with John-Michael Liles, a fly-fishing trip with John Mitchell and a golf date at the beautiful Raven with Kyle Quincey who celebrates the moment with the Dawg Father and Avs TV broadcaster and auctioneer Marc Moser.

One lucky bidder won center ice tickets to an upcoming Avs-Jets game......in Winnipeg!

John Reid of the Warrior Avs organized the sled hockey division and welcomed players from across the Colorado sled community.

Heroes all, these U.S. service veterans also hosted a “try sled hockey” event throughout the weekend.

This winter classic was one for the record books as ex-NHLers were bid on by various teams. Avs stars Milan Hejduk (above), Jan Hejda, Kyle Quincey, John-Michael Liles, John Mitchell and more made those teams look terrific. They were joined by fellow stars Rick Berry, Aaron Mackenzie, Duvie Westcott, Ben Scrivens and Gabe Gauthier to play in a very spirited Pros vs. the Pups game... leaving memories and photos with all the young players that will last a lifetime!

The Winners!

Division A

Morgan Stanley

Division B

Los Perros

Division C

Hot Dawgs

Division D

Osh Kosh Noodle

Division E

COS Dawgs

Vukota Capital Management

sponsored the trophy.

Worth playing for!

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Dave (on the right in the photo on the right) and Amanda Repsher and friend George Altz enjoy the Winter Classic. The Dawg Father celebrates the Winter Classic with DN board member and secretary Rob Packard (left in the photo on the left), Dave Repsher and Matt Martinez. “This is what Dawg Nation is all about,” said an admiring Martin Richardson at the finish. "Volunteers, players, fans, family members and tons of others who rolled up their collective sleeves to create a truly magical weekend."

A Helping Paw

Giving back is what Dawg Nation is all about. In nine years we've helped over 100 families in times of need with over $1,700,000 in recipient aid.

Andy Finney has stage four cancer but that hasn’t stopped him from living life to its fullest. At the Winter Classic January 11 at the Silverthorne Pavillion, the Dawgs saluted Andy and his family for their courage. Dawg Nation Executive Director Mike Freeman (r) presents Andy, wife Gina and the family a check for $16,500 that will help with medical bills.

At the Winter Classic, the Dawgs stepped up to help another of our own as we remembered Mike Lococo . Mike died at age 39 in December of a heart attack while playing in a hockey game. Mike will be remembered for many wonderful things he did in his short life including being the key man in bringing ice hockey to Gillette, Wyoming. Mike’s wife Megan , with son Hunter, accepted a check for $40,000. Megan told us she will never forget the outpouring of support for her family.

Ten years ago, Dan Hohenstein was our first ever recipient. "Hoagie" is a cancer survivor and the medical bills keep coming. Partnering with our friends at the Colorado Ice Hockey Referees Association, Dawg Nation board member Bill Miller (l) and Dawg Nation Executive Director Mike Freeman (r) presented Dan a check for over $10,000. Dan is a long time referee in Colorado and has worked many of the Dawg Bowl Survivor Games.

If you have been at Evergreen Lake over the years, you’ve seen Tony Huss on the ice passing on his love of hockey to many. Lately, Tony has battled kidney cancer. In December the Dawgs joined Huss and his teammates to present Tony and his wife Dore with a check for $10,500 to help with the medical bills. Dawg Nation was proud to financially partner with donations from Tony’s teammates to help a beloved member of the hockey community.

“Know this, cancer,” said teammate Alan Gionet, “When you mess with Tony, we empty the benches.” The good news? Tony is expected to make a full recovery!

A special thanks to Rick Egloff at Tuscany Tavern who provided the food and a dinner to raffle that added to what we were able to give Tony and his family.

In December at the Ralston Valley – Dakota Ridge hockey game, Dawg Nation board member Dave Chamberlain (l), Cap and DN Vice president Greg Clinard (r) surprised Arnie Archuleta with a check for $10,000. Arnie is fighting a rare form of cancer. Arnie is a big part of the hockey community in Arvada and has introduced the game to hundreds of kids through the years.

Dennis Borland has been an integral part of the Fort Collins hockey scene for many years. Earlier this year he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that resulted in the loss of his left leg. Dennis wants to continue playing and is taking up sled hockey. In December, with the help of the Colorado Eagles and the Fort Collins Pond Hockey Association (pictured), we provided Dennis with the opportunity to meet some of the members of sled hockey community. We also surprised Dennis with a check for $16,300 at the first intermission of the Eagles-Bakersfield game in Loveland.

Late last year, Carla Peters suffered a severe broken leg. She can’t play hockey for awhile and medical bills have piled up while she’s missed work. In November, the Dawgs presented Carla and husband Dale with a check for $2,500.

"I am so very grateful to my hockey family for looking out for me and supporting me through a very difficult time,” said Carla. “What a marvelous organization Dawg Nation is, to care for the people that play the game of hockey.”

We wish Carla a speedy and full recovery and look forward to having her back on the ice!!!

Learn More About Our Recipients

Paying it Forward

Valentine’s Day is February 14.

Shop at smile.amazon.com where you will find perfect gifts for those special ones in your life.

When you do, AmazonSmile donates to Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation at no cost to you!

Wow! We are stunned by the outpouring of support at the annual Colorado Gives Day. On December 10, you donated $14,500 to Dawg Nation to help us continue to help others. How big is that? It exceeds all previous nine years combined. Thank you for your continuing generosity!

A huge thanks to The Pinery Country Club and T.J. Satriano (above, with Dawgs CEO Martin Richardson). The Pinery chose Dawg Nation as the beneficiary at their exclusive “Swirl, Sniff and Sip” wine tasting in late January.

Guests sampled 80 spectacular wines from around the world and delicious food prepared by the Pinery’s talented staff and got into spirited bidding on the unique auction items only the Dawgs can provide.

Remembering Dave

“The hockey world has lost a very good man. As the son of former St. Louis Blues announcer Ron Jacober, Dave literally bled Blue. About a year ago this kind and gentle soul was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Dave was a veteran and long time Pueblo police officer. After Dave's diagnosis, we at Dawg Nation had the immense pleasure of being welcomed into the Jacober family and meeting is wife Melissa and son Cameron. We hosted Dave and his family at an Avs-Blues game and were invited several times into the Jacober home. I formed a special bond with Dave and sat by his side as he watched his beloved St. Louis Blues lift the Cup for the first time in their history last June. We danced and cheered as tears rolled down the cheeks of Dave and his family. He will be missed by many including me.” – Martin Richardson

Coming Up

Stand UP for Dawg Nation Comedy Night is April 1. This show features some of the top headline comedians in Denver. Join us at 7:30 at the Comedy Works South at the Landmark in Greenwood Village.

Comedy Works provides the venue to us at no cost and 100% of the ticket sales go to Dawg Nation. Lucy Restaurant, located at the Comedy Works, donates a portion of their sales.

This show sells out early! Check the Dawg Nation website to get tickets.