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Making a Difference
Taking the ice to shoot the puck around or play a pickup game of hockey is fun. To do it with my friends is better. When it involves helping a good cause it is the best.
My good friend Bob Klem, AKA Klemmer, is making this possible for several people this weekend with his Skate With Bob hockey game to be played at the Independence Events Center at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 16, 2013.
Making this even more special for me is that my son Michael will be playing in this game together.
Klemmer has never gone into battle carrying a rifle and wearing a Kevlar helmet but he wages war against a tough opponent every day.
Several years ago when his wife, Becky, succumbed to Pancreatic Cancer Klemmer declared war on this awful disease. Hockey is one of his weapons.
Every year he coordinates games in which proceeds go toward a cure for pancreatic cancer.
Local amateur hockey players pay to participate in these events and ask for sponsors to donate to join the fight.
The game this Saturday will feature the following teams:
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Doc’s Canadians |
Doc’s Clydesdales |
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Jeff Nevins |
00 |
Bob Rennison |
3 |
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Tom Awe |
3 |
Jim Petersen |
4 |
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Brian Purcell |
4 |
Jake Smith |
5 |
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Rich Birks |
6 |
Amy Rodemoyer |
6 |
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Bob Moore |
8 |
Stephan Sherman |
7 |
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Larry Smith |
9 |
Jeannine Koranda |
11 |
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BJ Custard |
13 |
Fr Joseph Totton |
12 |
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Antonio Soave |
21 |
Kyle Fuchs |
15 |
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Julianne Mazurek |
22 |
Shawn Larson |
19 |
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Travis Macken |
24 |
Mike Rennison |
21 |
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Allen Lehman |
28 |
Brett Purcell |
24 |
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Stacey Purinton |
30 |
Chris Linnane |
29 |
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Chris Hernandez |
52 |
Anthony Brennan |
34 |
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Evan Hicks |
54 |
Chris Barkhurst |
41 |
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Alec Birks |
58 |
Mike Thomas |
51 |
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Helmut Tweer |
69 |
Deb Kaub |
52 |
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James Sisson |
83 |
John Buzzelli |
56 |
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Maneesh |
96 |
Mark Rodemoyer |
99 |
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Jeff J |
20 |
klemmer |
35 |
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Cody |
38 |
Jeff S |
30 |
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On the back of their sweaters some players will display names of friends or family members who are, or have been, cancer victims. My jersey will carry the name of my sister, Judy Harms, who is a cancer survivor.
Missouri Mavericks mascot Mac, the best mascot in the CHL, will appear at the Have a Skate with Bob game. Most of the participants will return to the IEC Saturday evening to attend the Mavericks 7:05 game against the Quad City Mallards.
Klemmer is extremely grateful to Mavericks President/General Manager Brent Thiessen and Vice President of Communications Patrick Armstrong and their entire organization for working with him in this endeavor to bring an end to a dreaded disease.
He is also thankful for Skate’s sponsors, Doc’s Tavern in Lee’s Summit, LaserCycle, and itwasoutoflove.com for their support.
He is also thankful to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League and the Topeka RoadRunners of the North American Hockey League for working with him in similar events in their cities.
For information on the game to fight Pancreatic Cancer go to skatewithbob.com.
Bob Klem, thank you for being a General in the war on Pancreatic Cancer. You will see this enemy wave the white flag.
Bob Rennison does live game coverage of the Missouri Mavericks and the William Chrisman Bears in Independence, MO.
