The UK Charity Allstars are delighted to announce the Captains for the special Pro Allstars game that will begin the 2017 weekend at Ice Arena Wales on Friday, 28th July.
Two teams of current and former Professional hockey players from Cardiff and around the Country will assemble for a special night of hockey and fundraising to kick off our tenth anniversary weekend.
The two teams will raise funds for two additional Charities; the Ice Hockey Players’ Benevolent Fund, who help players and officials that need some financial and professional assistance in times of need – and SCIPS, the Charity run by Staff and Parents of patients at the neo-natal unit in the University Hospital of Wales.
These are two very worthy causes as sometimes hockey players and officials can be in great hardship physically and financially, and the IHPBF steps in.
SCIPS supports truly life-saving work, caring for extremely unwell and often drastically prematurely born babies.
Leading the SCIPS team out will be Max Birbraer, and for the IHPBF Ian Cooper will wear the ‘C’.
Birbraer, known in Cardiff as ‘Boom boom’ is an iconic power forward who played nearly 400 games for the Devils and terrorized opposition players with his skating, scoring and devastating open-ice hits.
Devils legend Cooper is the all-time leading British scorer for the Devils, with 1142pts in 482 games, and 8 Championship titles in Cardiff.
Kazazkh-born Birbraer said,
‘I’m really excited to be playing in this game, and honoured to Lead the team for a group that does such incredible work. Friends and team-mates of mine have benefitted by the work done by SCIPS so it will be a fun way to give something back for the work they do.
Also, to be able to play in the Devils’ new Arena after so many seasons in the tent will be a great experience. I hope as many fans as can make it come down and support the Allstars.’
On playing for a Charity of which he is a Trustee, Cooper had this so say:
‘After I missed playing in the Devils 25th anniversary game, I was so pleased to hear I was getting a chance to skate again in Cardiff. To then to be named Captain of one of the teams is a real honour.
Having not played for 15 seasons and nearing the grand old age of 50, I go into this with a little trepidation. I just hope the young guys take it easy on the old boys!
Fun aside, this has got to be one of the best weekends of ice hockey any player, young or old could wish to get involved in. Not only are we going to increase awareness for these amazing charities, but hopefully we can raise lots of much needed funds too.’
Tickets will be available online soon, via the Cardiff Devils online ticketing platform. Adults are £10, under 16’s £5 each.
More information about the teams and the game format will be announced shortly.
If you are a current or former pro player and would like to take part, please email the Match Director Neil Francis on nf@cardiffdevils.com
For more information on these two Charities, Click on the links below:
Ice Hockey Players' Beneolent Fund:
SCIPS:
