(by Steve Hopkins)
The Boston Bruins annual Pucks and Paddles event was held last Wednesday at the House of Blues in Boston. The Pucks and Paddles event began with autograph sessions and exhibition matches. The main event was a doubles tournament that matched Bruins team members with fans who had been the highest bidder in an auction. The winning auction bids this year ranged from $1,000 to $10,000. The proceeds raised benefit the Special Olympics and Boston Bruins Foundation. The total amount raised this year was over $110,000.
Twenty-four teams participated this year – most teams had one active Bruins player. The winning team was David Pastrnak, a Bruins player who learned to play while going to school in the Czech Republic. In addition to the Player/Fan team tournament – there were also a series of exhibition matches. The final match of the night was a doubles match between four popular Bruins players in a friendly grudge match titled “Bruins Best”. Each player risked $1,500 of their own money – with the proceeds from the losing team ($3,000) going to the Charity.
Rhode Island Table Tennis Association showed up in force to support the event. Steve Hopkins was the main table tennis contact (the Program listed him as “Head of Ping Pong Operations”), and 7 RITTA players served as Referees. The Rhode Island guys brought Butterfly balls for the event as well. The group had a great time promoting their club and the sport, while also contributing to this annual event. RI Table Tennis volunteers included Steve Hopkins, Chuck Cavicchio, Manny Silva, Ken Eng, Brian Scott, Tony DeLuca, Nick Chagnon, and Ryan Genereux.
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