Notre Dame hockey's jersey auction on Jan. 30 will benefit the Wounded Warriors Project.  The group's patch is on the right shoulder of each jersey.

Irish Hockey Alum To Match Final Bids Up To $10,000 In Irish Hockey Jersey Auction

Jan. 29, 2010

Notre Dame, Ind. – A Notre Dame hockey alumnus has announced that he will match the proceeds of the Notre Dame hockey team’s jersey auction – up to $10,000 – following this weekend’s fundraiser – “Giving The Shirts Off Their Backs” – to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. The alum notified the athletics department of his intentions on Thursday afternoon.

The Irish hockey jersey auction began on Friday, Jan. 22 at the Notre Dame website – und.com/auctions – and through 2:00 p.m. on Friday had received $8,505 in bids for the 28 jerseys.

The specially designed jerseys that honor Hockey Helpers and the Wounded Warrior Project will be worn in each game of this weekend’s series with Nebraska-Omaha and then go to the highest bidder through 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night. Following the second game of the series on Saturday, any jersey winners in attendance at the game will have the opportunity to receive their respective jersey as the Notre Dame players “Give The Shirts Off Their Back” in a ceremony at center ice. Each jersey will have that players autograph, as well as, a second player autograph per NCAA rules that stipulate a minimum of two signatures per jersey. The winning bidder also will have the option to have the jersey autographed by the entire team if they wish.

Fans in attendance at both Friday and Saturday’s games will have the ability to bid on the jerseys during each game as computer kiosks to und.com/auctions will be set up in the Joyce Center. Anyone wishing to bid on a jersey must set up an auction profile (user name/password/billing information) in advance. To register a new profile, link to https;//und.cstvauctions.com/register.cfm.

The Hockey Helpers (HH) was founded by Ryan Adler, a former Hobart College hockey player. The program was established in 2008-09 to give the Hobart College hockey team and other NCAA collegiate teams the opportunity to volunteer and give back through multiple service projects. HH collaborated with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to bring attention and support to the veterans wounded during war. The WWP is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, non-profit organization that exists to provide tangible comfort and support to the new generation of severely injured service members upon their return home from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas around the world. Beginning at the bedside of the severely injured, Wounded Warrior Project provides programs and services designed to ease the burdens of these heroes and their families, aid in the recovery process, and smooth the transition back to civilian life.

The idea for this unique fund-raising project at Notre Dame came from senior alternate captain Kevin Deeth (Sr., Gig Harbor, Wash.) who worked with Irish equipment specialist Dave Gilbert and adidas in designing the jersey that will be worn. The jerseys are NHL-style, adidas commemorative jerseys in home white with blue and gold trim. Each players name and number (blue – on back and shoulders) will be on the jersey along with logos from Hockey Helpers and the Wounded Warrior Project. The actual jersey can be seen on the Notre Dame website at und.com.

For more information on this event, contact Darin Ottaviani at 574-631-9910.