Team Staal faces off against cancer at Thunder Bay Staal Open events

This July Kiki Paterson, an eleven-year-old Thunder Bay girl, will get a little closer to her dream of being one of the first female players in the National Hockey League.

• Staal Open to feature two local golfers, three former NHL players
• Bobby Orr swings by Thunder Bay's Staal Open golf tournament
• Staal Open to feature two local golfers, three former NHL players

She is the final pick for Team Staal in the Pandora Intercity Summer Classic road hockey tournament in Thunder Bay. The event features NHL players from the past and present, media personalities and a variety of celebrities.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal of Thunder Bay made a guest appearance Wednesday at a special practice session for all the young players who had participated in the contest, which helped raise money for the Northern Cancer Fund.

He picked the final member of Team Staal the old-fashioned way - by choosing one hockey stick from the pile at centre ice.

"When he picked it up, I was so excited and my heart started beating faster, and it's still beating really fast, and I can't get it to stop!", said Paterson.

'If we lose, it's okay'

She is eagerly anticipating any helpful hockey hints the Staal brothers are willing to pass along, especially any advice on how to successfully deke out your opponent.

But she would also like to learn how they deal with the pressures of the game.

"Because sometimes I'll get mad if I lose and I don't like how I do that so maybe the Staal brothers will help me learn that if we lose, it's okay and just back away from it," said Paterson.

Helping people 'what life's all about'

But Staal said the opportunity to spend the afternoon just playing hockey for the sheer fun of it, win or lose, helps remind him of the joy of the sport.

"It does spark the enjoyment of the opportunity you have as an NHL hockey player to give back, and hang out with kids and hopefully be a good role model for kids, and it's an opportunity I'm very thankful for."

The road hockey tournament is just one of the many activities which coincide with the annual Staal Open golf tournament, an initiative from the Staal Family Foundation, which supports families and children battling cancer in northern Ontario.

The four hockey playing brothers - Eric, Marc, Jordan and Jared- started the foundation as a way of giving back to the community.

"It's part of our faith, and it's part of who we are as a family," said Jordan Staal. "I think we get a chance to help people and that's ultimately what life's all about."