On Sunday, April 10, TABC’s gym will be the site of the Third Annual Esther Semmelman Memorial All-Star Hockey Games. The day will be in memory of Esther Semmelman, devoted wife to Jacques and mother of Alyssa and David, who passed away in August 2012 after a 10-year battle with cancer. Proceeds from the event will benefit iShine, a unique after-school program for children coping with illness or loss in their homes. The program creates a warm and caring environment filled with laughter and friendship where children have the opportunity to truly shine.
This year, in addition to the two high school games, there will be a middle school game. The middle school game, featuring a competition between the New York and New Jersey junior high leagues will kick off the festivities at 11 a.m. Following the conclusion of that game the two high school leagues will take center stage. At 1:15 p.m., over 40 junior varsity all-stars, representing the JV Eastern, Central and Western divisions will be drafted onto two teams and play in celebration of their accomplishments this past year. Finally, at 3:30 p.m., the varsity all-star game will conclude the day in a battle of East vs. West.
In addition to the games, all age groups will compete in an exciting and popular skills competition between periods, in contests such as “Hardest Shot” and “Last Man Standing,” an elimination-style breakaway challenge.
General admission to the games is $5. All donations over $100 will include admission for immediate families. In addition, there are various hockey-themed sponsorship opportunities. For more information, contact [email protected]. To make an online donation to iShine, go to tabc.org/allstarhockey. Checks can be made out to iShine and mailed to Torah Academy of Bergen County, 1600 Queen Anne Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666.