Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 Most of you know I'm involved with Kerry Goulet of 29Sports. Kerry drives the fundraising for Shoot For A Cure and Play It Cool to help stop and/or cure paralysis and concussions.The latest venture, which partners with The Canadian Moose, is fantastic: a two-week tour in July to introduce high level hockey to the New Zealanders. There will be three teams -- American professionals against Canadian professionals, plus a team with scrubs like us -- playing 6-7 games for the rec team and 3 games for the pros, plus sightseeing and activities like bungee jumping built in. The tentative dates are July 19 through August 4, which is winter down under, and the approximate cost is supposed to be slightly above $3,000, although that isn't final, since they are working to get the price lower. There stIll are about eight spots available, so if you know anyone who might be interested in the hockey trip of a lifetime, could you please have them contact me or Kerry Goulet with 29Sports?Yes it's a lot of time and a lot of money but, for the right person, it will be a lot of fun!Here's the tentative schedule:July 19 Depart Toronto July 21 Arrive Auckland, NZ July 22 Practice; Media Event July 23 Auckland Stadium Game July 24-26 Local games & sightseeing July 27 to Christchurch July 28-29 Local games & sightseeing July 30 Christchurch Stadium Game July 31 Lake Tekapo – local game Aug 1 - 2 Queenstown – local game Aug 3 Dunedin Stadium Game Aug 4 Depart NZ; Arrive Toronto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrangler 157 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 Sounds like a lot of fun. I wish the dates worked for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raganblink 82 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 What's the skill level for scrubs? Avg high school, Jr a, b, acha? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrangler 157 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 What's the skill level for scrubs? Avg high school, Jr a, b, acha?Could be wrong, but I was guessing "slightly above $3,000". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raganblink 82 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 Huh? Skill not cost Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatwabbit 93 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 $3000 is a cheap trip to NZ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 Kerry told me the other day that the cost is supposed to be $3,000, but he's working with the New Zealand promoter to try to get it below that. I'm guessing they're trying to utilize the dollar exchange to make up for some of the cost, as well as probably suggesting players utilize their own fundraising.In terms of skill, Kerry says I'm going -- although I always kid about Kerry that if he says he'll call tomorrow, it will actually be next week! -- so I'd say the rec level team isn't the highest the skill. When I'm in good shape, I'd put my skill at about an average high school player, because I have decent speed/hustle and passing but not much individual skill. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatwabbit 93 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 Bring some work gloves while you're there....you can help rebuild the town :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrangler 157 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 Huh? Skill not costI meant that I thought signing up and paying was probably more important than skill level. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 I had someone express interest through a PM, so I emailed Kerry Goulet to see who people should contact. He said anyone interested should contact him directly at 416-828-2929 or his email.As I told this gentleman, Kerry's a great guy, but he receives 50+ phone calls a day, so he's not always the best at immediately returning phone calls! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bostonjuniorblackhawks 1 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 I had someone express interest through a PM, so I emailed Kerry Goulet to see who people should contact. He said anyone interested should contact him directly at 416-828-2929 or his email.As I told this gentleman, Kerry's a great guy, but he receives 50+ phone calls a day, so he's not always the best at immediately returning phone calls!Is he pretty good at returning his emails? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted February 28, 2011 The best way to describe Kerry -- and I believe Chadd and JR would agree with me about this -- is he's a Life Of The Party kind of guy, so people put up with his tardiness in returning correspondence. Plus I've always presumed he returns the important calls right away. Of course that means I have to admit that puts me in the unimportant category.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hockeyaussie 1 Report post Posted March 8, 2011 This is interesting... Would be cool if someone did something like this in Australia. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted March 8, 2011 I think I read on the brochure for this tour that the Canadian Moose made a trek through Australia a few years ago. My guess is if it goes well, another tour would head back to Australia, as well as possibly Asia. Just a guess, though.What's interesting is the tour hit some bad news over the weekend -- I know because I was supposed to pick up Gouche at the airport on Sunday morning, yet I hadn't heard from him, so I called him about 7:00pm on Saturday, "Hey, man, are you coming down???" -- but I think the bad news will lead to a better tour. A couple of NHLers (including Kyle Quincy of the As) were supposed to come along, but the problem is the promoter from N.Z. marketed the event as an extreme sport with hellacious hitting. The NHLPA heard about this and put a nix on any players under contract being in a game with hitting.After speaking with Kerry on Sunday, it sounds like the net result is the tour will turn into much more of an ambassadorship for hockey, with the NHLers being coaches, visiting hospitals and leading clinics on the ice. They will try to fill the two professional teams with AHL and ECHL talent, plus possibly recently retired NHLers and/or guys who played in the NHL and Europe. The NHLPA is talking about getting involved via their Goals And Dreams program, which I believe donates equipment to youth hockey. The games will be slightly more Harlem Globetrotters-ish, with the hitting and fighting scripted.But the kicker, if it happens, is Kerry said they are going to try to set up two tryout camps of high level players in Toronto and Philly, to be filmed by The Hockey News and 29Sports, with two players at each camp winning the trip to New Zealand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wrangler 157 Report post Posted March 8, 2011 Will the dates be changing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted March 8, 2011 I don't believe so.Essentially, the tour was a marriage of two goals. From the promoter's perspective, they're marketing a sport that is seldom seen in N.Z., and they chose the angle of rugby or football on ice. Apparently, they charged big dollars and still sold out. On the other side are The Canadian Moose and Kerry with his Play It Cool platform, who are trying to be ambassadors for the sport. The initial setup didn't have NHLPA approval, but I believe Kerry is meeting with the NHLPA today, so my guess is he'll come out of it with even more involvement than they would have had originally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darmin 2 Report post Posted March 9, 2011 I don't believe so.Essentially, the tour was a marriage of two goals. From the promoter's perspective, they're marketing a sport that is seldom seen in N.Z., and they chose the angle of rugby or football on ice. Apparently, they charged big dollars and still sold out. On the other side are The Canadian Moose and Kerry with his Play It Cool platform, who are trying to be ambassadors for the sport. The initial setup didn't have NHLPA approval, but I believe Kerry is meeting with the NHLPA today, so my guess is he'll come out of it with even more involvement than they would have had originally.Being a Kiwi ( New Zealnder) and loved wathcing the Canadian Moose when they came through Dunedin when i was a bantam, just wondering if the South Island events will still be taking place (Christchurch, Dunedin, Lake Tekapo/Queenstown) due to the earthquake they recently had. Am due a holiday so returning at the same time to watch this would be perfect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted March 15, 2011 Being a Kiwi ( New Zealnder) and loved wathcing the Canadian Moose when they came through Dunedin when i was a bantam, just wondering if the South Island events will still be taking place (Christchurch, Dunedin, Lake Tekapo/Queenstown) due to the earthquake they recently had. Am due a holiday so returning at the same time to watch this would be perfect.Sorry for not getting an answer earlier. I had spoken to Kerry last week but forgot to ask him, then we were busy for our trip to a concussions summit in Philly. I've been with him today and he said the earthquake will not impact the games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted May 26, 2011 Kerry posted these on Facebook today:"We are looking for 4 more players but you must be playing either in the AHL, ECHL or CHL. having been drafted by the NHL would be a good asset, your trip is all inclusive and there will only be 22 players in total. Kyle Quincey and I will be managing the two teams. The Auckland game July 23 is sold out with 10,000 tickets sold! Email me if you would like to join us goulet29@29sports.com""Teams made up from AHL players and ECHL players who have had experience in the NHL will play in a winner takes all hockey tournament. It will feature Canada vs? USA and games will be played July 23 Auckland, July 30 Christchurch, and Aug 3 Dunedin. It will be a tour of tours."!By the way, there's a funny part to the story, because this is what I posted on Kerry wall:You'l like this story, buddy.There's an ex-NHL player that comes to our rink. I've told you about him, because he had to retire early due to concussions, and I even spoke to him about the bag tag program the last time I saw him about two months ago.Anyway, I saw him today, we said hello, then he went into the locker room across the hall. A little while later I overheard the words "New Zealand." That's strange. Then I heard "America" and "Canada."So I go over there and ask, "Derek, are you talking about the tour in July?""Yeah, I'm going to be the American captain!""How did you hear about this??""From Kerry Goulet. I did a couple of interviews with him yesterday.""But how do you know Kerry??""From Kyle Quincy."Derek is Derek Armstrong, and Kyle Quincy put the two of them in touch because Derek had to retire early due concussions, while Kerry founded STOPCONCUSSIONS.COM with Keith Primeau about four weeks ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadd 916 Report post Posted May 26, 2011 I've sent word out to a few guys I know. I'll send them Kerry's way if/when I hear back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sghockey21 1 Report post Posted May 30, 2011 Maybe you guys can plan a stop over game here in Singapore next year. Our new Olympic rink should be up by February and it would be nice to watch really good players. I'm guessing that your flight would most likely stop in Singapore anyway. Lester Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted May 30, 2011 Lester, I think it will depend how well the tour goes this year.I began to type this, then figured I might as well go to the horse himself, since Kerry just got back from New Zealand around Friday. He said he believes the professional portion of the tour (Team Canada vs Team USA) will go fine. I think the Auckland game has sold out, while the other arenas are around 60% with seven weeks to go, but Kerry says they're going to have a conference call tonight with the contacts in N.Z. and The Canadian Moose (an adult, goodwill group), because Kerry has fears that the Moose might be struggling to fill the spots, which could put the adult portion of the tour in jeopardy.On the other hand, the professional tour is fine but needs a few more AHL quality players. Kerry said there is now money in the budget to pay for 22 professionals, so each team will have ten skaters plus a goalie, with the hope being one line of veterans (i.e., retired players with NHL experience) and a second line of younger minor leaguers (AHL, ECHL or CHL). So if anyone knows players who might be interested in a trip like this, please refer them to Kerry at goulet29@29sports.com.Now, on to Singapore specifically, I have no doubt there is hope that this could become a regular type of tour, although it's always contingent upon how well it sells in each country, because the proceeds have to be able to pay for the professional players' travel expenses. However, Derek Armstrong told me that Kerry mentioned Australia as the possibility for next year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatwabbit 93 Report post Posted May 31, 2011 Lester, where is the rink going to be built? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sghockey21 1 Report post Posted May 31, 2011 Lester, where is the rink going to be built?Rebuilt at the Jurong Entertaiment Center, now called JCube. Next to the Jurong East MRT Station. Won't be a stadium thing though. Shopping center with 2 levels of viewing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted June 1, 2011 I spoke with Kerry this afternoon and learned that the adult portion of the tour has been cancelled, so what remains will be three games played between former NHL players and current minor leaguers in a US versus Canada format. Apparently, even though this had been advertised for a couple of years, only six players had paid for the tour at this point. Consequently, the group that is staging the games began to worry about hosting games where there might be only seven or eight players on the bench, so they came to the agreement that it would be best to part ways, at least for this year.Kerry also said everyone wants to bring the tour to Australia next year, as long as it's enough of a success in N.Z. this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
