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Community Corner

Donate Winter Coats and Teddy Bears While Enjoying Minor League Hockey

Make a difference in the Gwinnett community and enjoy a hockey game at the same time!

Whether you are a Gwinnett Gladiator regular or have been never been to a hockey match, here are two great opportunities to catch a game on the ice while making a difference in our community.

On Dec. 30, the Gladiators will host a winter coat drive and will be offering discounted tickets to their match against the Florida Everblades for all fans who donate at the coat drive. Fans who donate a gently used winter coat, sweatshirt, pull-over or other cold weather item at the Gwinnett Arena Box Office will receive a $20 premium level ticket (Section 119: Blue Line) or Section 106 (Attack Twice Zone) ticket for only $10. Game time is 7:05 p.m. and autograph opportunities will include Will Colbert and Pat Galivan. According to the Gwinnett Gladiators website, the coat drive that was held back in 2009 yielded more than 600 coats that were donated to various agencies in North Georgia.

The Gwinnett Gladiators will also host the Teddy Bear Toss at their Saturday, Jan. 14 match against Greenville. Fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal or teddy bear to the match and then the items will be tossed onto the ice following the Gladiators first goal. All stuffed animals collected will be donated to local children’s charities in North Georgia. The 2010 Teddy Bear Toss generated more than 5,000 stuffed animals which were donated to more than two dozen local agencies in North Georgia.

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The Gwinnett Gladiators also held a successful food drive earlier this season. According to a press release from the Gladiators, over a ton of food was collected and delivered to the 11Alive “Holiday Can-a-Thon.”

Tickets for upcoming Gladiator games are available online, but you will need to purchase your tickets at the Arena Box Office when making a coat donation to receive ticket discounts. The Gladiators are a local professional minor league ice hockey team that is currently affiliated with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes and AHL Portland Pirates as well as the Buffalo Sabres and the AHL Rochester Americans.

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