On the surface Jim Dowd’s 11th Annual Monmouth versus Ocean High School All Star Hockey Game is an opportunity for many of the shore’s top players to lace up the skates in the summer. 32 of them will be on the ice Sunday night at the Red Bank Armory with the Ocean County All Stars looking to end a six-year losing streak as Monmouth leads the series 7-3.
The game is the brainchild of NHL veteran Jim Dowd, who came up with the idea through his “Shoot for the Stars Foundation” which he started during his playing days with the Devils. The Brick native and Point Pleasant resident is hoping to return to the Flyers for his 18th NHL season after helping Philadelphia advance deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.
Dowd, who turns 40 later this year does not just lend his name to this All Star game but is involved in all phases of it.
Part of that is choosing a charity to benefit from the proceeds. In the past the game has donated thousands of dollars to individuals, scholarship funds, youth hockey, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County and Dottie’s House. Sunday’s game again demonstrates that this is much more than a hockey game with proceeds going to the Marks Family Fund. Randy Marks was a 40-year old father of six who on Mother’s Day along with four of his children went to place flowers on the grave of his mother who had died a couple of years ago. While visiting the grave Randy suffered a fatal heart attack, witnessed by his children the oldest of which is
9 years old. A well-liked carpenter for the borough of Spring Lake, he leaves his wife Susan and the six children from 7 months to 9 years old.
So while the hockey game is obviously a good time and great experience for the players and their families there is an underlying theme of giving back which is what Dowd has done throughout his professional career. Game time is 6pm at the Red Bank Armory, there will be raffles and giveaways, a free rally towels to the first 400 fans and former Devil Bruce Driver will drop the first pick. Both of last summer’s MVP’s are back….Ken Yasenchock of Monsignor Donovan and Red Bank Catholic’s Kevin Pecca.
If you can’t attend but would like to support the Marks Family Fund then you can send a donation to:
“Shoot For the Stars” Foundation
708 New Jersey Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
The game is the brainchild of NHL veteran Jim Dowd, who came up with the idea through his “Shoot for the Stars Foundation” which he started during his playing days with the Devils. The Brick native and Point Pleasant resident is hoping to return to the Flyers for his 18th NHL season after helping Philadelphia advance deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.
Dowd, who turns 40 later this year does not just lend his name to this All Star game but is involved in all phases of it.
Part of that is choosing a charity to benefit from the proceeds. In the past the game has donated thousands of dollars to individuals, scholarship funds, youth hockey, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County and Dottie’s House. Sunday’s game again demonstrates that this is much more than a hockey game with proceeds going to the Marks Family Fund. Randy Marks was a 40-year old father of six who on Mother’s Day along with four of his children went to place flowers on the grave of his mother who had died a couple of years ago. While visiting the grave Randy suffered a fatal heart attack, witnessed by his children the oldest of which is
9 years old. A well-liked carpenter for the borough of Spring Lake, he leaves his wife Susan and the six children from 7 months to 9 years old.
So while the hockey game is obviously a good time and great experience for the players and their families there is an underlying theme of giving back which is what Dowd has done throughout his professional career. Game time is 6pm at the Red Bank Armory, there will be raffles and giveaways, a free rally towels to the first 400 fans and former Devil Bruce Driver will drop the first pick. Both of last summer’s MVP’s are back….Ken Yasenchock of Monsignor Donovan and Red Bank Catholic’s Kevin Pecca.
If you can’t attend but would like to support the Marks Family Fund then you can send a donation to:
“Shoot For the Stars” Foundation
708 New Jersey Avenue
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
2 comments:
Jim Dowd is a class act hockey player and individual. He is one of the best. We, in Minnesota, had him as a Minnesota Wild hockey player for several years and he not only was a hard working hockey player but a mentor to many of the young hockey players. He also was a great leader in the locker room. We miss him and wish him the best of luck no matter what he does.
My entire life at the Jersey Shor I have been asked "Is Jim Dowd your brother" and the answer is no, but I am certainly glad he is a guy who gives back to his community. We need more people like him.
LIVESTRONG!
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