Live Charity Event during Game 4

The Detroit Red Wings do more than just play hockey, they participate in charity events just as much as they play hockey. During Game 4 there will be a live auction to help out youth hockey players who have sustained spinal cord injuries.

DETROIT -- The Red Wings and FOX Sports Detroit are joining forces to raise money for two injured youth hockey players with a special live charity auction to be held during the broadcast of Game 4 of the Red Wings first round playoff battle with the Columbus Blue Jackets (Thursday, April 23, 6:30 p.m. EDT). The auction will feature two of the most unique items ever offered on an auction: the sticks used by Red Wings forwards Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby when they played in their 1,000th NHL games.

The sticks were autographed by the players and originally presented to coach Mike Babcock as a gift from Draper and Maltby. With the players’ support, Babcock, in turn, is donating them to benefit Kyle Cannon and Derek Zike, who recently suffered severe spinal cord injuries while playing youth hockey.

Throughout the FOX Sports Detroit broadcast, the Red Wings will be accepting bids for the hockey sticks used by Maltby during his 1,000th career game played on February 27 against the Los Angeles Kings, and by Draper during his 1,000th career game played on February 2 against the St. Louis Blues. Personal donations in any amount will also be accepted with the first 50 callers to make a $50 donation receiving a special autographed photo of Draper and Maltby.

Cannon, a 14-year-old high school hockey player from Oregon, Ohio, was injured Nov. 30, 2008 when he was checked into the boards head first during a hockey tournament just outside of Dayton, Ohio.

Only six weeks later, Zike, a 17-year-old Chicago Fury player, lost an edge during a game in Ann Arbor, Mich., and was propelled into the boards. Both players suffered spinal cord injuries and underwent treatment at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital where they were visited by Babcock.

Fans can place bids over the phone beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23 by calling 313-396-7438 during FOX Sports Detroit’s Game 4 broadcast. Bid increments and auction updates will be announced on-air throughout the game. Payment via credit card and check will be accepted.

Fans will also be able to follow the bidding online via the WingsLive in-game blog on DetroitRedWings.com.

http://redwings.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=418962&page=NewsPage&service=page