November 04, 2003   A celebrity sled hockey game was held at Chelsea Piers on October 27th to benefit the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association Islanders, a sled hockey team co-sponsored by the NHL's New York Islanders and the Association.   Celebrity Sled Hockey Game Raises Funds and also Awareness By Danny Perry, Public Affairs Officer A celebrity sled hockey game was held at Chelsea Piers on October 27th to benefit the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association Islanders, a sled hockey team co-sponsored by the NHL's New York Islanders and the Association.  Along with donated funds associated with the game and the after party, held at the infamous Lot 61, additional money was raised through raffles and the sale of sports memorabilia.  The event was coordinated by Gary Springer who is the father of Nick, an Islanders sled hockey team player.  Springer, through his entertainment industry contacts, was able to secure a number of people, while Vic Calise, the sled hockey team captain, helped bring in a couple of former NHL hockey players.   Brendan Fraser (Actor), Nick Springer, Victor Calise, Tom Bernard CEO of Sony Classics Along with the celebrities, the game also consisted of players from the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association Islanders and members of the FDNY hockey team.  The "Orange" squad boasted actor Brendan Fraser and Tom Bernard, President of Sony Pictures Classics.  The "Black" team was spearheaded by Hockey Hall of Fame player Rod Gilbert, former Boston Bruins player Rick Middleton and Joe Patane from MTV's Real World.  Also in attendance were New York Ranger Brian Leetch and the team's Assistant Coach, Terry O'Reilly, along with Mo Rocca from Comedy Central's The Daily Show.    The game was a unique experience for all those involved.  Right from the start, it was apparent that being adept at traditional hockey doesn't translate into success in sled hockey.  Gilbert, who made a living during his 16-year New York Ranger career alluding defenders and scoring goals, often looked mesmerized.  Having never played the adaptive sport before, he was relegated to wandering around the ice with a hearty smile on his face.  Fraser was a little more active, but quickly realized that sled hockey is a much different sport than the hockey he had played as a youngster growing up in Canada.  At the conclusion of the game, the "Black" team was able to claim a 3-2 victory thanks in large part to two goals by Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association Islanders Ahmad Karimzada's.  Kiko Morillo, Eastern Regional Manager for Independence Technology, which was the trophy sponsor for the game, then presented the team with their well-deserved hardware. Although the primary function of the celebrity event was to raise funds, much more was accomplished on this day.  For all the able-bodied competitors, an understanding and true respect was gained for athletes that play adaptive sports. "I think the able-bodied players really got the opportunity to see what disabled athletes have to go through to overcome their disability," stated Calise.  "In actuality, the able-bodied people were the ones who became disabled."
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