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 As part of the NHL Centennial Celebration, renowned Canadian artist Tony Harris will paint original portraits of each of the 100 Greatest NHL Players presented by Molson Canadian as chosen by a Blue Ribbon panel. NHL.com will reveal two portraits each Monday in 2017.

This week, the portraits of forwards Pat LaFontaine and Marcel Dionne are unveiled in the 11th installment.LaFontaine, who played eight seasons with the New York Islanders, six with the Buffalo Sabres and one with the New York Rangers, is the fifth-highest United States-born goal scorer in NHL history, with 468 goals in 865 games. 

In his NHL100 profile on LaFontaine, author Kevin Allen says he was an inspiration for American hockey’s greatest generation.

“LaFontaine, a 2003 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, is considered a member of American hockey’s greatest generation, a contemporary of players like Mike Modano, Jeremy Roenick, Bill Guerin, Mike Richter, Keith Tkachuk. But he also served as an inspiration for them because he was establishing himself as an American star when they were at impressionable ages.

When LaFontaine broke into the NHL, Tkachuk was 11, Guerin was 13 and Roenick 14.”

Harris said he was hoping to capture two aspects of LaFontaine’s game in his portrait.  

“I was always fascinated that Pat LaFontaine grew up in the U.S. but came to Quebec to play junior hockey, putting him on the Canadian hockey radar at an early age,” he said. “My hope for this portrait was to demonstrate the agility and speed with which he played.”

CiC Foundation Executive Board member George Ross and his wife, Billie were featured in the Winter 2016-17 of Northwell Health’s GRATITUDE magazine. In addition to funding the Lion’s Den Room at Cohen Children’s Hospital, the couple have been instrumental in the development of other pediatric initiatives at the hospital.

Billie & George Ross

Most recently, the Ross’s fostered the development of the Billie and George Ross Center for Advanced Pediatric Orthopaedics and Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery. This is the only center in New York – and one of the few sites nationwide – to offer minimally invasive scoliosis surgery and house a dedicated team of scoliosis specialists. The center features MAGEC (Magnetic Expansion Control)and is led by two world-renowned experts in pediatric orthopaedic surgery.

Since 2007, The Ross’s have funded critical projects that transformed pediatric care at Cohen Children’s and made the hospital environment less scary for young patients. In addition to the Lion’s Den and the MAGEC initiatives, their investments helped develop the Neonatal Stabilization Unit and Radiology Comfort Care Room. They have also delivered interactive and educational systems to every patient’s bedside and provided two transport vans to assist patients and their caregivers reach the hospital for appointments.

The feature story is included on pages 14 and 15. http://www.onwardpublishing.com/nh/GM2016/

Players, alums unveil renovated teen lounge at St. Louis Children’s Hospital

 NEW YORK – The National Hockey League (NHL) and St. Louis Blues unveiled a renovated teen lounge as part of the 2017 NHL® Winter Classic Legacy project. The renovated room was designed in partnership with Companions in Courage, a nonprofit charity that was founded by Hockey Hall of Famer and League executive Pat LaFontaine. All elements within the room have been donated to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, a leading pediatric facility that serves youth across the U.S. and around the world.  

“I was born in St. Louis and put on my first pair of skates in the suburb of Kirkwood. I always hoped that Companions in Courage could one day give back to the place where I was born,” said Pat LaFontaine, NHL Vice President of Hockey Development and Community Affairs. “I am thrilled that this year’s NHL Winter Classic Legacy project will introduce technology to the healing process for pediatric patients for years to come.” Continue reading »