Dominic Moore has brought Smashfest to the States due to the pandemic. Up until 2020, the event was held in Toronto. Logistics and travel restrictions made it easier to hold the festivities in Stamford, Connecticut.
The charitable event pits hockey players against one another in a table tennis tournament to raise money for rare cancer. Moore’s personal tragedy is what moved him to do something to help others dealing with the terrible disease.
“It would have been our ninth annual event last summer, so we’re doing our ninth one this summer,” said Moore, who played 897 regular-season NHL games along with 101 career playoff games. “We’ve held it in Toronto for all of the years we’ve done it. We had been thinking of doing more events at different places, which I mentioned at Smashfest [VIII]. We were waiting to see what would be possible this year and it didn’t seem like it would be possible to do in Canada so we thought it might be a good time to do it in the U.S. We’ve got great support from all the people who have helped us every year the NHLPA, the players, sponsors. It’s going to be awesome.”
NHLPA
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”777310″ player=”25579″ title=”NHL%20Network%20Analyst%20Kevin%20Weeks%20on%20growing%20up%20in%20Canada” duration=”130″ description=”He eventually followed his cousin to register in house league hockey in Toronto in the first grade, and Kevin Weekes wanted to be an NHL goalie ever since. Nothing–not being a black goalie, not having Caribbean parents, nothing he said could be used against him–would stop him.” uploaddate=”2020-12-10″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/snapshot/689673_s_1607637724763.jpg” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/689673/689673.m3u8″]
Rangers Roundup: Smashfest
This year, current New York Rangers Chris Kreider and Adam Fox are taking part in the tournament. Legendary 1994 Cup winning goalie, Mike Richter is also involved in the event as well as Marty St. Louis.
“There’s a great lineup of current and former players all for the charity benefiting rare cancer research and head injuries in sports,” Richter said. “I hope you can support this as it goes on. Obviously there’s a huge need out there.”
Adam Fox took on Chris Kreider at the event and said he prepared by “working Troubs”, in reference to teammate Jacob Trouba. Word has it, Kreider won that matchup.
Kreider talks about Quinn and Buchnevich
Mollie Walker of the NY Post was at Smashfest and briefly spoke with Chris Kreider. She asked him about the changes this offseason, and his thoughts on the upcoming campaign.
“I had a terrific relationship with him, I learned a ton from him, I really respect him as a coach, as a person,” Kreider said of David Quinn. “Really gonna miss him.”
Kreider also reminisced about lineman Pavel Buchnevich who was traded due to salary cap constraints. “I remember him his rookie year, he didn’t speak a lick of English,” he said. “That’s the nature of the salary cap and I hate to say I’m numb to it, because I’m not, it still stings.”
The Rangers veteran noted that he’s excited about playing for Gerard Gallant whom he called “terrific.” Kreider also confirmed what we all understand these changes that started towards the end of the season are about.
“Everyone just wants to punch their ticket to the dance,” CK20 discussed making the playoffs. “Regardless of what people think of our roster, of what the state of the team is, our goal going into the year is to make the playoffs and that’s obviously at the front of every single players’ mind.”
Brennan Othmann contract details
The Rangers signed 2021 first round pick Brennan Othmann to his ELC yesterday. Terms at the time were not disclosed. Per PuckPedia the breakdown is as follows:
- NHL Base 832.5K
- Signing Bonus 92.5K
- Potential “A” Performance Bonuses 450K
- Minors 80K
Jack Eichel’s complaints against Buffalo get a boost
Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner played with the Sabres. In a recent interview, he just helped Jack Eichel’s cause. Read more.
