11 Year old Burnsville Hockey Boy Lost in a Tragic Accident

B-Ville Hockey Guy · Post by **B-Ville Hockey Guy** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:19 pm

USA Hockey and Burnsville Lost a great kid in a Tragic accident last night in Burnsville. Our Hearts go out to the Balisteri family for their loss and please Keep Geoff (Dad) in your Prayers for a full recovery from his injuries.

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:09 pm

Thoughts and prayers for the family

BlaineJGA · Post by **BlaineJGA** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:41 pm

My thoughts and prayers go out to the the family. Its so sad to lose someone so young to such a thoughtless act.

hockey_is_a_choice · Post by **hockey_is_a_choice** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 8:49 pm

This tragedy is a reminder to all of us that hockey is about the kids and putting smiles on their young faces.

Godspeed to the young player's family, friends, teammates and coaches.

hockey_is_a_choice · Post by **hockey_is_a_choice** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:37 pm

Here's a thought: If everyone who reads this thread sends a minimum of $5 to the Burnsville Hockey Club to establish a memorial in the young player's honor this blog could actually accomplish something worthwhile. In the memo section of your check write "Minnesota Youth Hockey Forum Memorial" so Burnsville Hockey knows the money is intended to honor the young player.

This is the State of Hockey and this player's family and local hockey community need to hear from the rest of us.

Here's the address to the Burnsville Hockey Club (I found the address on the BHC web site):

Burnsville Hockey Club
251 Civic Center Parkway
Burnsville, MN 55337

Give your kids an extra hug today.

Ugottobekiddingme · Post by **Ugottobekiddingme** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:37 pm

hockey_is_a_choice wrote:Here's a thought: If everyone who reads this thread sends a minimum of $5 to the Burnsville Hockey Club to establish a memorial in the young player's honor this blog could actually accomplish something worthwhile. In the memo section of your check write "Minnesota Youth Hockey Forum Memorial" so Burnsville Hockey knows the money is intended to honor the young player.

This is the State of Hockey and this player's family and local hockey community need to hear from the rest of us.

Here's the address to the Burnsville Hockey Club (I found the address on the BHC web site):

Burnsville Hockey Club
251 Civic Center Parkway
Burnsville, MN 55337

Give your kids an extra hug today.

Now that's MN hockey and a great idea from HIAC, thanks for the address. Who is going to coordinate this effort as I am prepared to send a check for a different amount?

hockey_is_a_choice · Post by **hockey_is_a_choice** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:26 am

Thanks, UGBKM. I am not a member of the Burnsville Hockey Club, but I know the Burnsville Hockey Club's VP of Administration, Jim Susag. I will contact Jim today to let him know this effort is underway.

I, too, am sending a check for a different amount. The $5 minimum was just a suggestion.

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:35 am

I'm in...... The support from many will be more important than dollar amount.

B-Ville Hockey Guy · Post by **B-Ville Hockey Guy** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:37 am

hockey_is_a_choice wrote:Thanks, UGBKM. I am not a member of the Burnsville Hockey Club, but I know the Burnsville Hockey Club's VP of Administration, Jim Susag. I will contact Jim today to let him know this effort is underway.

I, too, am sending a check for a different amount. The $5 minimum was just a suggestion.

I am on the BHC Board, and will make sure that any donations that come with in with in the name of Balistreri or Have the hockey forum on it will be put to a memorial in his name. The Hockey community has a huge heart and I think that this would be an awesome tribute to Joey and his spirit on the hockey rink.
Burnsville Hockey Club
251 Civic Center Parkway
Burnsville, MN 55337

hockey_is_a_choice · Post by **hockey_is_a_choice** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 6:03 pm

The Burnsville Hockey Club's VP of Administration informed me the BHC Board is already considering renaming its scholarship fund in Joey's name with the donated funds.

The family also has an older son who is presently serving in the Army in Afghanistan. The family is hopeful he will make it back to Minnesota for the funeral.

pebbles · Post by **pebbles** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 9:36 pm

I hope everyone reading this topic who is a regular reader of this forum will send a check. I don't know how you couldn't. The story in the Star Trib about him playing in the baseball State Championship for his Burnsville team, then his life ending on the same day...wow...

I remember the day a couple years ago when my son won an 11 year-old baseball tournament in Woodbury, and we passed a very drunk driver on our way home. It was frightening, watching him weave in and out, then us trying to speed up to get past him when he did a big swing to the right.

God bless this family as they try to heal. And I hope the Burnsville Association will let us all know how the at-large-hockey-family can help, because we all want to.

B-Ville Hockey Guy · Post by **B-Ville Hockey Guy** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:45 am

I just wanted to bump this post to the top and give an update and a link. The outpouring of support from hockey and baseball families from around the twin cities has been noticed by the family and is greatly appreciated. Geoff (Dad) is slowly recovering from his physical injuries and the road ahead is a long one. Below is a link to the Burnsvill Hockey Website that has a link to Caring Bridge and information on How to help.

http://www.blazehockey.com/Joey.html

Post by **karl(east)** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 11:01 pm

I'm going to sticky this topic for a while so it doesn't slide off the back end of the forum.

Also, I might suggest setting up a PayPal account. That can make donating even more convenient.