Our 3rd Quarter 2024 Newsletter is here!

Hello Martin,

Take a look inside the most successful Dawg Bowl of all-time, join us for two amazing reunions and meet the courageous recipient who fought cancer and won.

Dawg Bowl 14

Hockey and Fun for Everyone

Each year brings more excitement to Edge Ice Arena. This year, over 50 teams and 1,000 players battled for trophies in multiple divisions. Fans loved the sled hockey exhibition. Dawg Nation Founder and CEO Martin Richardson and NHL great and Dawg Nation Ambassador Milan Hejduk put on black-out glasses and played in the Blind Hockey game.

Dawg Bowl 14 raised a record of over $350,000. That money, as always, goes to those in the hockey community that need it most and we made five check presentations at Dawg Bowl.

Special Game – Special Group

This year, we honored first responders, brave women and men who put their lives on the line to help those in danger.

The Guns and Hoses game featured police against firefighters. Firefighters prevailed 7-6.

Local first responders rallied around long time law enforcement officer and passionate hockey player Todd Clifford and his family.

Todd is a 32 year veteran of the Lakewood Police Department and is fighting pancreatic cancer. Todd dropped the ceremonial first puck and the Dawgs surprised the Cliffords with a check for $50,000. Further donations pushed the total to $64,500!

With Todd are (left to right) Dawg Nation board member Zac Neumayr and Ian, Matthew and Shannon Clifford.

Playing the Game They Love

The Survivor Game is the heartbeat of Dawg Bowl. Those that play have battled major illness or catastrophic injury. Most credit hockey and the chance to skate again for helping them recover.

“These men and women are true warriors and to see them together on the ice, with smiles that light up the arena, is nothing short of amazing,” enthused Cap. “Thank you to all our Survivors, you inspire us to be more, to do more, to overcome more!”

Amy Moilanen dropped the puck at the Survivor game. Amy’s husband Craig, who was a firefighter, died recently. The Dawgs presented Amy with a check for $50,000 that will go to pay medical bills and more. Dawg Nation board member Zac Neumayr and Martin Richardson make the presentation to Amy and her son Brendan.

Reunion on Ice

Dan Grady (left) and Brian Peoples grew up in Connecticut, played pond hockey together and were teammates on the Darien High School hockey team.

They lost touch after graduation. Unbeknownst to each other, they ended up living in Colorado.

Now, here’s the twist. Both are Dawg Nation recipients! Dan (left) recovered from hip surgery. Brian survived a stroke. Dan saw Brian’s name in the recipients’ section of the Dawg Nation webpage.

A surprise meeting was set up at Dawg Bowl. Two friends as kids who hadn’t seen each other in nearly 50 years met again.

Skating Together…Again!

Keith Haley had a normal life into his 20’s when hereditary glaucoma began to take his sight. Keith (right) was unsure he would ever play hockey again, but that all changed when he found blind hockey and the Dented Pucks team.

As a standout player at Farmington High School in Connecticut, Keith skated on a line with Craig Pierce, now a Colorado resident. These once inseparable teammates hadn’t seen each other in years and Craig took the opportunity to root for his old linemate who had made the 2,000 mile cross country trek to play in his first Dawg Bowl.

Once the word was out, the Dented Pucks invited Craig to again play on a line with his childhood friend. At Dawg Bowl, Keith and Craig took the ice together for the first time in nearly 35 years! It was something they didn’t think would ever be possible after Keith’s diagnosis.

Postgame, Keith and Craig turned back the clock while slipping on their old Farmington gear, reliving their glory days as a couple of high school hockey stars.

Champions

COPPER C - The Mallards

COPPER B – Blackbird Public House

COPPER A – The Mustangs

This one was for Marty. The team dedicated its first Dawg Bowl Championship to Marty McKnight who founded the team in 1992. Marty died last year of a heart attack during a game. He was playing the game he loved, wearing the jersey he loved, surrounded by the people he loved.

BRONZE B – Cobra Kai

BRONZE A – Steel Rock Films

SILVER – Moto Spa

WOMEN’S – The Edgy Penguins

PLATINUM – Denver Concrete

Why Dawg Bowl Gets Bigger and Better?

It’s our volunteers! Martin Richardson said it best. “We have dozens of people who work making Dawg Bowl the unique tournament that it is. Many of these folks donate their time and talents for days, weeks and even months, working behind the scenes as well as during the week of, to make sure that our tournament not only runs smoothly, but is filled with special moments, one-of-a-kind opportunities, and of course some great hockey!"

Above Left, left to right: Allison Winder, Zayden Winder, Cynthia Jett and Danielle Anthony-Parrish handle merchandise sales.

Above Right, left to right: Chase Nau-Metzler, Brittany Clark and Braileigh Hollis help the teams check in.

Cap added, "From registration to the auction, merchandise to reffing the games, our BBQ and the beer bucket brigade to score-keeping, and so much more... each volunteer stepped up with enthusiasm and bright smiles! You make it possible for us to do what we do... and yes, you change the world!”

Above Left: Craig Stinehour was a Dawg Nation recipient in 2021. He refereed the Survivor Game!

Above Right, left and right: Dan Schramm and Jared Miller keep track as Dawg Bowl 14 sets a record for money raised at over $350,000.

Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation Appreciates… You!

A big shout out to our Dawg Bowl XIV Title Sponsor, Velux Skylights. This is the third straight year that Velux has stepped up for Dawg Nation, allowing us to put on the special tournament that is Dawg Bowl. Thank you to Velux Skylights and Marty Goss for making it all possible.

A Helping Paw

CJ Hunter has played on many Dawg Nation teams in addition to working with many in the hockey community. Hoss was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and the Dawgs were quick to rally around their friend. At Dawg Bowl, we presented CJ and family with a check for $11,500.

In May, the Dawgs teamed up with the Denver Women’s Hockey League to help the Emmitt family. Ronnie Emmitt died in December. He loved playing hockey, coaching the game and turning his wife, Liza (center), and their children onto the sport.

With ice donated by APEX, the Dawgs and DWHL played two fundraising games and gave the Emmitt family a check for $11,650.

Back on the Ice

Kyle Barrowcliff has been fighting cancer. Kyle is a first repsonder and former coach with the Little Hockey Association. In January the Dawgs presented Kyle with a check for $12,700 to help with spiraling medical costs.

Showing support for Kyle are (left to right) Ian Barrowcliff, Milan Hejduk, Debbie Barrowcliff, Don Coombe, and the Dawgfather.

In July, Martin Richardson got the following note from Kyle,"I know the last time I saw you I was in pretty bad shape. But after surgery, radiation and chemo with 4 months of recovery I was told I am now cancer free. Hockey will always be a part of our lives. Littleton Hockey Association, Mountain Vista High School and Dawg Nation did more than we could have ever imagined. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

CLASH Time

In late July, the Dawgs were proud to host the 2^nd Annual 3v3 CLASH. The Dawgs had a special check presentation for the Legere family. Their son and brother Chaz passed away last year. Chaz played hockey growing up in Colorado and played college hockey at the University of Northern Colorado. Honoring Chaz are (left to right) Ashton Stephenson, Cap, Leo and Max Legere.

The Dawgs presented Highland Hills Hockey Association with a check for $2,500. Their No Kid Left on the Bench is a scholarship program for families needing financial assistance to afford the high cost of hockey fees. Andrew Richardson (left), and Ashton Stephensen joined Martin for the presentation.

The title in the Gold Division at the CLASH went to the Top Dawgs.

The Mountain Timers took the Silver Division Crown.

Bragging rights belonged to the Arnold Palmers in the Bronze Division.

The Inclusive Dawgs won the Copper Division. 11year old Hunter Murphy was diagnosed with bone cancer in May. Just three days before major surgery, he played in the CLASH. Hunter's surgery went well. Doctors hope following additional treatment over the next few months, Hunter will be cancer free.

Thank you to our sponsors and all who helped make the CLASH a success. We're already looking forward to the next one!

Never Forget - Move Ahead

Ten years ago Tom Petersen was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer. Wife Angie is in a nursing program at Metro State University in Denver and finds time to be with Tom every step of the way.

The Dawgs present a check each month of the 16 month program to the Petersens to help with Angie’s schooling. Each check honors one of the 16 Humbolt hockey families that lost a loved one in the bus crash in Saskatchewan in 2018.

In May, the Dawgs paid tribute to Logan Boulet. He was the only organ donor on the bus and his legacy lives on with the lives he saved.

Angie has a perfect 4.0 GPA in her first semester of the nursing program and the Dawgs have now paid for a second semester!

Coming Up

The 14^th Annual Tee it up for Dawg Nation Golf Tournament returns to the awe-inspiring University of Denver Golf Club on September 9.

Want to be a sponsor or volunteer?

Get Information HERE!

Last Shot!

Shaw Hockey Productions was once again a big player at Dawg Bowl. Thanks to Mike and Suzanne Shaw, the crew and streaming sponsor New York Life, most games were available on YouTube.

A special shout out to Manny Furtado for once again calling our games!