On Frozen Blog

Kevin Kaminski, Head Coach,
229 East Front St.
Youngstown, OH 44503

March 1, 2008

Re. Victory Friday

Coach -

I see you lived up to your end of the bargain and knocked off the Wichita Thunder Friday night, 4-3. So I thought you’d appreciate hearing about two more terrific victories on the night.

Here in D.C., we had a spectacular, spectacular night. I guess the first thing I’d have you know is that when at our fundraiser for Wilson High School at Clyde’s downtown we announced that there were only 5 minutes remaining for bidding on our auction, a mass of people surrounded the table showcasing the items you mailed me. We asked folks to bid in increments of $10, but they ignored that, and started writing in bids in $20 and $25 increments. No exaggeration Coach — we had a genuine bidding frenzy take place over those amazing photos you contributed. What would you say if I told you that just a single one of your autographed photos fetched $100? Another one fetched $95. Still another one helped raise Wilson High $75. Your signed photos and other gifts helped raise hundreds of dollars for our cause, Coach.

Coach — we had 97 people pony up $10 or more just to enter the party room to watch the Caps and Devils, drink a few beers, and bid on some awesome hockey items. That means that before the auctioning even started we raised over a $1,000 for the team.

And get this: just on Friday, people who couldn’t attend the gathering at Clyde’s but wanted to help donated more than $500 in contributions on line. And more money will come in over the weekend.

You might say Alexander Ovechkin’s signed hockey stick was popular with the benefit attendees. Ready for this? — it fetched $600! We won’t know for a couple of more days what the final tally in raised dollars will be, just that it will be significant, and that the Wilson High hockey community was overwhelmed by the turnout and support. I’ve been a witness to and involved in some special moments associated with our great game, Coach, but nothing quite like last night.

At one point the Wilson team captain — I’m guessing he was about 17 years old — took a hand-held microphone and stood before a hundred people in the room and told us, “What you’re doing for us tonight is going to benefit the team years after I leave the program.”

And by the way, the 100 of us gathered at Clyde’s Friday night, with beers in hand, we watched the Caps kick the snot out of Marty Brodeur and the Devils, 4-0! Four times during the game we all broke out in a chant of “C-A-P-S CAPSCAPSCAPS!!!” It was raucous.

It was a perfect night, Coach.

Coach, we raised thousands of dollars for Washington’s only public high school hockey team. And you played a big part in it.

I need to ask two more favors of you. First, promise me that you’ll share this letter with Mrs. Kaminski and your daughters, so they know your role in helping save an important part of youth hockey in Washington, D.C., where you’re remembered and missed greatly. Secondly, just as you asked me for my size for a gift a few months ago, I need yours now, cause there’s a token of appreciation I need to get out your way.

I’m guessing your wear a large — the size of your heart. But confirm it for me.

–John