Game On Magazine - April 2017 GameOn-Apr2017-P001-144-ONLINE | Page 43

MICK E. MOOSE WITH PLAYERS KEVIN CZUCZMAN (27), DARREN KRAMER (22), QUINTON HOWDEN (21)
AND DAN DESALVO (39) ALONG WITH THE SCARCELLO FAMILY AND THE NEIGHBORS
sonalized rink name, the rink was the clear
winner.
“It was a tough decision to narrow down
the rinks,” said Michelle Gazze, the manager
of community relations for the Moose, “But
the Scarcello family rink encompassed the
true meaning of a backyard rink. Spending
time with your family outdoors, getting to
know your neighbours, and the overall com-
munity vibe was unbeatable.”
On Feb. 6, 2017, the Scarcello family gra-
ciously hosted a hockey game between Man-
itoba Moose players: Darren Kramer, Dan
DeSalvo, Kevin Czuczman, Quinton Howden
and the neighbourhood kids. After a few pic-
tures and the traditional singing of ‘Oh Can-
ada’, the puck was dropped and the game
was underway. At times it was hard to tell
who was having more fun – the kids or the
Moose players. The players and kids shared
the rink together, ate pizza, and enjoyed hot
chocolate while making memories that none
of them will soon forget.
“It was such a highlight for me and my
family, something we will cherish for a long
time,” said Jeffery Scarcello, the architect
behind the rink, “I wasn’t sure what to ex-
pect from them on such a cold night. To see
the players out there playing shinny with all
those kids and then not wanting to leave the
ice after it was done shows that they have a
passion for hockey and for this community.”
The Manitoba Moose have already made
their mark on the city and province with
their community outreach and continue to
grow their legacy with events such as these.
The backyard rink contest proved to leave a
lasting impression on all involved – commu-
nity and players alike. n
THE ORIGINAL HOT STOVE LOUNGE
IT’S GAME TIME