Pineault Fundraiser, Practice Notes & More

 - I  attended practice today and a spirited practice it was. Everyone was skating except Maiani & Pineault who are still dealing with upper body injuries. Brian McMillin is wearing a full face mask after sustaining the injury at the last home game. Since Brian wore a mask all the way through college it is something he is used to. His first game with the mask in Denver he had two goals.

 

- The Americans will host a tailgate party outside the Allen Event Center on Saturday from 3:00 - 6:00 pm. Come join in the “FUN” which will include Street Hockey Games in the Dodies parking lot from 3-6 pm; a live performance by GoodNGone , a mixture of Texas Country and Southern Rock from 4-6 pm, featuring Allen Police Officer Jimmie Davidson; Bounce Houses; The Allen Americans Slap Shot Cage; a cookout with burgers and hotdogs with special guest chefs Craig Ludwig and Ed Belfour; a special appearance by the Ice Angels. I will be one of the guests at a live pre-game show from 3-5 pm with Americans Broadcaster Tommy Daniels. Stop by and say hi and let's talk some hockey!

I  had a chance to talk to Adam Pineault at practice about his efforts to raise funds for his friend, 21 year old Martine Durelle, who is battling the same kind of cancer and treatment Monique Pineault has dealt with. I received the following email from Monique in which she describes what Martine is going through.

 

"Martine was diagnosed with Hodgkins last September. Biopsies came back inconclusive. In November, they found a tumor on her brain which she had removed and analyzed. The biopsy revealed that Martine had Non-Hodgkins (Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma). This is a treatable form of cancer with intense chemotherapy. In February, they found out that the chemotherapy was no longer working. She started a new chemo more aggressive which will prepare her for a bone marrow transplant. Martine has the same Oncologist as I did (Dr. Finn) and she will be going to the same hospital (Halifax Health Science Center - Victoria General) where I went. Because the province of New Brunswick doesn't have a transplant facility, patients are obligated to go to the province of Nova Scotia. This is where it gets expensive to pay for lodging, medications and meals! Martine had her own bone marrow preserved back in November so she doesn't need a donor (lucky!!). Martine is currently waiting for a bed to become available in Halifax for the transplant journey to start.

Martine worked as a train conductor for Via Rail Canada. She has since lost her license after she had a seizure because of the brain tumor. Now that the brain tumor is gone, she is waiting for the news to see if her license will be reinstated. 

  Adam and Monique know all to well how hard it can be worrying about treatments as well as all of the financial burdens. This is where all fans can help out by participating in the auctions, raffles, and donations at the game on Saturday. There will be close to 40 items available including jerseys and other hockey gear, gift cards, rounds of golf and lunch with the players. There will be a live auction right after the game where you can bid on the jerseys of Pineault, Lukin, Bootland and Dell. Other jerseys will be available via silent auction.

Martine Durelle Fundraiser on Saturday

If you would like to make a cash donation to Martine there will be a place to do that at the game as Monique and some of the players wives will be in the concourse with the silent auction items. If you aren't going to attend the game and want to make a donation you can Send a cheque to Martine Durelle's home address: 184 Rue du Portage, Memramcook, New Brunswick, Canada E4K 3Y3.