SMASHFEST! MEDIA AVAILABILITY AT 6:30 PM ET ON JULY 12TH

TORONTO (July 5, 2012) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) will be conducting media availability next Thursday, July 12th for Smashfest! at Steam Whistle Brewery, prior to the event starting.

Smashfest! Media Availability:

WHAT:           Smashfest! Charity Ping-Pong Challenge – Media Availability

WHEN:           Thursday, July 12th, 6:30 – 7:00 PM ET

WHERE:         Steam Whistle Brewery, Toronto

WHO:             Dominic Moore, Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier, Eric Lindros, Jason Spezza, Brett Connolly, Logan Couture, Zenon Konopka, Teddy Purcell, Joe Reekie, Mathieu Schneider, Ryan Shannon, Daniel Winnik, Rob Zamuner, Joel Ward, Wojtek Wolski and Stephane Veilleux are scheduled to participate

RSVP:             For media who will be attending, please RSVP to Andrew Wolfe (awolfe@nhlpa.com)

**Please note that media are able to stay beyond the availability period (to capture photos, video, and to watch the event) but interviews are to be conducted during the availability period**

Through this light-hearted one-of-a-kind tournament hosted by Dominic Moore and the NHLPA, NHL players are coming together for some fun while seeking to raise awareness as well as much needed research funds to better understand and treat brain injuries. Fans attending Smashfest! will have the opportunity to square off against NHL players at the ping-pong table; a chance to bid on and win one-of-a-kind silent auction items and prizes; and will be able to meet and interact with some of their favourite NHL players while helping raise money for research into traumatic brain injuries. A Smashfest! ping-pong champion will be crowned at the end of the evening. Proceeds from this event will be directed to The Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center and Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute.

Tickets for the inaugural event are on sale at www.smashfest.ca.