FACT SHEET

• Hockey Fights Cancer (HFC) is a joint charitable initiative founded in December 1998 by the National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association and supported by NHL Member Clubs, NHL Alumni, the NHL Officials' Association, Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers and Equipment Managers, corporate marketing partners, broadcast partners and fans throughout North America.
  
  
• Hockey Fights Cancer was established as a way for the hockey community to come together to fight cancer, a disease that has affected so many individuals in the hockey family.
  
  
• Hockey Fights Cancer's goal is to raise money and awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research. 
  
  
• The 2007-08 season marks the 10th Anniversary of Hockey Fights Cancer.  The NHL and its 30 Member Clubs have joined together for a year-long initiative to help increase funds and awareness of HFC. 
  
  
• To date, Hockey Fights Cancer has raised more than $9 million.
  
  
• Many current and former members of the NHL and their families have experienced the effects of cancer.  Saku Koivu, John Cullen, Milos Holan, Mario Lemieux, Phil Kessel, NHL Official Paul Stewart and the late Doug Wickenheiser and Roger Neilson fought courageous battles against cancer.
  
  
• The charity's largest fund-raising initiative is the Hockey Fights Cancer On-Line Charity Auction.  The auction has raised more than $1.8 million since 2000.  The first NHL All-Star jersey ever worn by Pittsburgh Penguins center and All-Star rookie Sidney Crosby generated a record $47,520 during the 2007 Hockey Fights Cancer On-Line Charity Auction.
  
  
• The Hockey's All-Star Kids Program, a component of HFC, was announced in October 1999 by the National Hockey League and the NHL Players' Association.  The joint initiative links the hockey community with the youngest victims of cancer and other diseases. 
  
  
• Hockey's All-Star Kids initiatives are in place in all 30 NHL markets.  The program encourages interaction between players and young patients and provides opportunities for Children's Hospital patients to be involved at the arena -- activities ranging from taking part in puck-dropping ceremonies to serving as a stick boy or girl.  
  
  
• Through a League-wide relationship with Children's Hospitals in Canada and the United States, the Hockey's All-Star Kids Program includes patient visits, fund-raising support and programs to help create a positive environment for patients and their families.