Sound Tigers to hold fundraisers for Newtown

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers announced today that the team will honor the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School throughout the next month by wearing the last names of the children lost in last week’s tragedy on their black, alternate jerseys.

The club will also host auctions and fundraisers to benefit the nearby school.

In place of each player’s last name, every jersey worn at home beginning on Saturday, Dec. 22 when the Sound Tigers take on the Adirondack Phantoms, will have the name of one of the 20 students whose life was lost on Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn. The names of the six adult victims will appear on the center hung digital scoreboard throughout the entire game.

“Sandy Hook Elementary School has been a part of our family, supporting the Sound Tigers at games and community events since the team began calling Bridgeport home, 12 years ago,” Sound Tigers president Howard Saffan said. “We are honored to recognize the victims of the heartbreaking events that happened less than 20 miles up the road.”

The team will wear these special black jerseys for the seven home games leading up to their match-up on Sunday, Jan. 20, against the Springfield Falcons. During that game, the Sound Tigers will honor the Newtown community, as members or representatives from each family will be invited to take home their jerseys off the players’ backs at the conclusion of the contest. The 3 p.m. game against Springfield will also feature special promotions, auctions and other fundraisers to support Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The Sound Tigers will host an online auction beginning Monday, Jan. 7, and ending at midnight, Sunday, Jan. 20. Items will include a team-signed Team Alfredsson jersey from the 2012 NHL All-Star Game, a John Tavares autographed jersey and an Alex Ovechkin signed jersey. The Sound Tigers will have 26 team-signed jerseys for live auction throughout the game on Sunday, Jan. 20. Proceeds from both auctions will go towards Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Earlier this week, the team announced that they will wear commemorative ribbon patches on the jerseys and stickers on their helmets for the remainder of the 2012-13 American Hockey League season, and a graphic with the initials “S.H.E.S.” and the date “12.14.12” will be painted into the ice behind each net at Webster Bank Arena for the remainder of the season.