Not so many years ago Jim Dowd (New Jersey Devils) and Stephane Matteau (New York Rangers) skated on opposite sides of one of the NHL’s most heated rivalries.
However, on Monday, Jan. 8 the former Stanley Cup Champions will come together in solidarity at the Jersey Shore Arena in Wall Township to support the Toms River based nonprofit organization Hometown Heroes – a group that assists recuperating military men and women readjusting civilian life – and Dowd’s latest endeavor, the Jersey ShoreWildcats Bantam AA outfit.
Matteau – who scored the game-winning overtime goal in Game 7 of a 1994 Eastern Conference Finals victory over Dowd and the Devils, ahead of the Rangers eventual Stanley Cup Championship – and Dowd – who notched the game-winning goal in the third period of Game 2 in the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals, a series New Jersey would take from the Detroit Red Wings – will be together on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. signing autographed memorabilia for local fans, with proceeds to be donated to both Hometown Heroes and the Jersey Shore Wildcats Bantam AA team.
This Wildcats club – which has Dowd as its head coach and features his youngest son Anthony Dowd in its top line center position – ventured to West Chester, PA in September where the team captured an International Silver Stick Regional Championship.
MORE: Wildcats Bantam AA secures International Silver Stick Regional Championship
Later this month (Jan. 18th through the 21st), the Wildcats will be back on the road, this time in Port Huron, MI where the group of local skaters will compete at the 56th International Silver Sticks Finals.
Proceeds from the meet and greet and autograph session with Dowd and Matteau will help fund the team’s travel expenses.
Entrance to the event is $50 per person and includes a signed picture of Matteau’s storied tally from that Eastern Conference Finals victory, as well as two signed memorabilia pieces of your own, and a personal photo with each of the NHL greats.
The Jersey Shore Arena is located at 1215 Wycoff Road in Wall Township.
The Jersey Shore Wildcats Bantam AA Team Is…
Forwards: #7 Anthony Caruso, #8 Robert Setteducati, #9 Anthony Dowd, #20 Mitchell Ducalo, #26 Nathaniel Block, #27 Jason Andreyev, #29 Justin Lidondici, #79 Tommy Atanacio, #88 Christopher Laureigh, #94 Nicholas Colao; Defensemen: #4 Dominic Schaffer, #10 Nicholas Ochlan, #21 Joey Virga, #23 Yater Henry, #86 Justin Ervelli; Goaltenders: #30 Jack Bilancione, #71 Joseph Colecchia; Coaches: Jim Dowd, Steven Ervelli; Manager:Tammy Laureigh.
