Kings Charm Court
(from the Daily News)
By Holly Edwards
Staff Writer
February 12, 2001 - VALENCIA - Clutching hockey pucks, hockey sticks and memorabilia, hundreds of people braved cold, blustery conditions Sunday to shake hands and get autographs from two of the most popular Los Angeles Kings players, Ian Laperriere and Eric Belanger.
The hockey players spent most of the afternoon signing their names to kick off ticket sales for the seventh annual Santa Clarita Valley Kings Game on March 31, a fund-raiser for the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children's Cancer.
Trevor Sullivan said he plans to go to the game to celebrate his eighth birthday.
"I'm a big Kings fan," Trevor said, holding a soon-to-be-autographed hockey puck. "I play hockey too."
Asked why he volunteered for autograph duty, Laperriere put his arms around a young girl battling leukemia and said, "Here's your answer right here. I'm doing it for that big smile right there."
As the girl blushed and grinned, he said, "I want her to keep fighting."
Belanger said he feels a debt of gratitude for his good fortune.
"Everything's been great for us, and we have the time," he said, sitting at a table in front of Big Five at River Oaks Shopping Center. "And the most important thing is to encourage the kids to keep on going."
Founded in 1994, the Hoefflin Foundation has raised more than $1 million for children's cancer research and outreach programs for children diagnosed with cancer, said Chris Hoefflin of Santa Clarita.
Hoefflin's son Michael died of brain cancer at age 10 in 1996.
"The biggest objective we have is to see this disease conquered," said Hoefflin, who said that the cancer rate among children has been rising.
"We also provide help and information to families coping with this. It's a terrifying thing when a child is diagnosed with cancer."
The Kings will play the Colorado Avalanche in the fund-raiser, sponsored this year by Blue Barrel Disposal and AT&T.
Tickets may be purchased on the Kings Web site, from the Hoefflin Foundation or at the Hockey Stop on Soledad Canyon Road.