HF Proudly Launches Ice Hockey Club

Holmes, PA– Over the past 8 years the HEADstrong Foundation™ has relentlessly faced-off against cancer.  Initially growing an international presence in the sport of lacrosse, the athletic rooted non-profit organization working to improve quality of life for cancer patients and their families, proudly announced that they will be taking their fight to the ice through the creation of the HEADstrong Hockey Club (HHC).

HEADstrong Hockey Club (HHC) intends to provide an unmatched standard of excellence both athletically and academically to its members.  The club will raise awareness and funds to support efforts focused on improving the quality of life of those affected by cancer.  HHC plans to teach student-athletes the importance of service and empower them to give back to their own communities.  HEADstrong believes heavily in preaching values and character development and has worked diligently to engrain this into their players. The hope of HEADstrong Hockey is to leave an everlasting impression, helping to give a broader perspective on life not just the sport and engage both athletes and families who are looking to be part of an incredible philanthropic hockey experience.

“We are thrilled and honored to be taking our efforts into the sport of ice hockey.  Over the years we have had many of our supporters who are multi-sport athlete’s express interest in getting involved and we felt that given the crossover that it was a natural progression for our organization.  We are looking forward to taking a grassroots approach to fostering relationships and look to the newly established teams as ambassadors of our cause in the hockey community.  We are enthusiastic about sharing our story, our mission, raising awareness and empowering athletes to make every shift count.” says Cheryl Colleluori, HF President and Nick’s Mom

The teams will make a powerful statement by playing in HEADstrong’s iconic lime green, which is the awareness color for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, the disease that claimed the life of founder Nicholas “HEAD” Colleluori.  HEADstrong’s national awareness product partnership with Warrior Sports will also help to provide awareness of the cause in the sport.

HEADstrong was determined to find the right leadership to help drive the cause in the game and has sought the help of two of the sports most respected developmental hockey coaches Dave Dorman and Jared Beach to lead the effort.  Both Dorman and Beach have a strong history of working together.  HEADstrong plans to launch 10 elite level ice hockey teams which will officially take the ice in the summer of 2015.  Both Dorman and Beach have a successful history of producing some of the top tiered hockey players in the country and were inspired to create a team with a higher purpose after becoming involved with the HEADstrong Foundation™.

“The game of hockey opened up many educational and life experiences I may have otherwise never experienced. Those experiences have truly shaped the person I’ve become.  I’m truly grateful and humbled by the journey I’ve had, and being involved with the sport gives me a platform to pass on those gifts and lessons to the next generation.  When I learned about Nick Colleluori’s relentless battle against non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and his ability to selflessly create an organization focused on changing the game for cancer patients and families by uniting and rallying athletes throughout the country while he himself was going through treatment, I was inspired to get involved and introduce this amazing cause the sport of hockey.” says Dave Dorman

Dorman, who was recently named head coach of Malvern Prep is one of the area’s most respected hockey coaches and has developed successful on- and off-ice training programs for players from junior to professional levels. He is a USA Hockey Advanced (Level 4) Certified Coach, and began his coaching career by leading the West Chester Quakers to two consecutive Atlantic District Championships and a bronze medal at the USA Hockey National Tournament in his second season. Dorman then took over the Jr. Flyer Junior Program, and in his first season, led the team to a 31-11 record and a third place finish in the MJHL. In his second season he coached the team to a 33-5-0-5 record and an appearance at the USA Hockey National Tournament. Through his training programs, Dorman has helped 90 players skate in NCAA Division I programs and had nine players selected in the NHL draft. He attended the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass., where he starred in hockey, baseball and soccer. Dorman spent a post-graduate year at Wyoming Seminary School where he was a hockey team captain and MVP. He then played a year of Junior A hockey and finished his playing experience at Neumann College.

HEADstrong Hockey Club (HHC) has been fortunate to attract the attention of a major corporate sponsor in ClearBridge Investments, LLC. ClearBridge Investments is a well-established global investment manager with a legacy dating back more than 50 years. Between HEADstrong’s product partnership with Warrior Sports, and our newly forged corporate sponsor with Clearbridge Investments, much like their iconic lime green laces the future of the HEADstrong hockey division looks bright.

“I am excited to be taking my lifelong passion and joining forces with such an incredible cause in the HEADstrong Foundation. When we first started our discussions and they expressed their desire to expand into other sports, I knew right from the beginning that Nick’s cause and the Colleluori family were the perfect fit. They are passionate, driven, and truly have a mission that is quite obviously, personal to them. I find it very exciting to represent a cause affects so many and I am looking forward to leading these efforts with Jared to grow HEADstrong.  Our staff will demand that our players buy in and truly commit themselves to doing things the HEADstrong way. From myself, to the other coaches, and right on down to the players, we will all be accountable when we are representing the HEADstrong Foundation. I’m a big believer that attitude is reflective of leadership and it is my job to make sure that everything is done the right way.”

Joining Dorman is Jared Beach.  Beach has served as both the head coach and general manager for the Philadelphia Flyers Junior Hockey Club.  He has also coached the Team Comcast Midget program, making three appearances at the USA Hockey National Tournament including a silver medal finish in 2009.  He has helped over 90 athletes’ transition to the Division 1 level. Growing up and playing youth hockey in the tri-state area, Jared went on to play three years of New England Prep School hockey at the Gunnery, followed by two years of Junior A hockey in both Canada and the US. Jared finished off his Junior career as the captain of the Bay State Breakers of the EJHL, and received several offers to play Division 1 hockey before an injury prematurely ended his playing career.  With more than 25 years of experience as a hockey player and coach, Jared possesses a unique perspective on the growing needs of today’s hockey player. Jared resides in Marlton, NJ with his wife, Courtney, and 2 year old son Brooks.

For more information or for how you can get involved with the HEADstrong Ice Hockey Club please visit www.HEADstrongHockey.org

About HEADstrong Foundation

The HEADstrong Foundation™ is a 501(c)(3) committed to being a resource for blood cancer patients and their families, helping them to navigate the harrowing ordeal of cancer by providing essential services to improve quality of life.

HEADstrong™ is an athletic rooted organization that serves the cancer community by granting direct financial assistance to those financially impacted as a result of the disease, by providing complimentary long-term housing and amenities for those traveling to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for cancer related treatments through Nick’s House™, by funding innovative blood cancer research through the Nicholas E. Colleluori Lymphoma research fund, by serving family meals and offering outlets of entertainment for those receiving care at hospitals, by delivering comfort kits to newly hospitalized patients preparing for treatment or transplant and by lending an arm of support through their peer to peer advocacy group.

The blueprints for the Foundation were conceptualized by Nicholas “HEAD” Colleluori in 2006, while he underwent treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which ultimately claimed his life.  Today, Nick’s vision is being fulfilled through the relentless efforts of his family, athletes and supporters across the country uniting in the fight against blood cancers.