The Bison women's and men's hockey programs are pleased to announce their annual joint scholarship fundraiser dinner to be held on Monday, February 6, 2017. The special event will be staged at the Canad Inns - Fort Garry (1824 Pembina) with special guest speaker former NHL defenceman and broadcaster Shane Hnidy in attendance.

Proceeds from the evening will go to support student athletic scholarships needs of the Bison women's and men's hockey programs.

The special fundraiser event will celebrate and support the Bison women's and men's hockey programs of the past and present. The evening will start with cocktails at 6 p.m., then dinner at 7 p.m., followed by special guest speaker. The event will include numerous door prizes and a silent auction.

Early Bird ticket prices are available until January 23. Single Tickets are $150 with a tax receipt for the donation portion of ticket. Corporate Tables are $1200 (Table of eight with a tax receipt for donation portion of ticket). After Jan. 23, individual tickets will be $170 and corporate tables will be $1400. All donations (directed to scholarship) will be matched by the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative.

There are sponsorship opportunities still available if interested. If people are unable to attend, they can make a donation and receive a 100% tax receipt.

Shane Hnidy, 41, played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a defenceman with the Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. In his last season in the NHL, Hnidy (nicknamed "The Sheriff") re-joined the Bruins prior to the trade deadline on February 23, 2011, and subsequently helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup over the Vancouver Canucks in a seven game Stanley Cup Final. Hnidy played in 550 NHL regular season games and produced 71 points (16 goals, 55 assists) with 633 penalty minutes and added six points (4g, 2a) with 34 PIMs in 40 post-season games in the NHL.
 
Since 2011, Hnidy has also been part of the Winnipeg Jets broadcast team on TSN Radio 1290 and the colour person with Dennis Beyak during Winnipeg Jets games on TSN Television. He also supports the annual Shane Hnidy Golf Tournament in his hometown of Neepawa, which is a fundraiser for the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation.

"We very excited to have Shane Hnidy as part of our scholarship fundraiser this year," commented Bison women's hockey head coach Jon Rempel. "It will be a great night of celebrating Bison women's and men's hockey, both past and present. Plus it will be an opportunity to connect with friends, partners and Alumni of both programs."

Last year's event raised close to $20,000 for student-athlete scholarships.

For tickets or to make a donation please go to the Manitoba Bisons website (gobisons.ca) and fill out the online form available.

"We're really looking forward to another successful and entertaining evening of celebrating Bison Hockey, " said Bison men's hockey head coach Mike Sirant. "The dinner represents the major fundraising initiative for our men's and women's hockey scholarship fund and we really appreciate the continued support of our Alumni and friends of Bison Hockey!"

For additional Bison Hockey scholarship fundraiser event information, contact either Bison women's hockey head coach Jon Rempel at email: jon.rempel@umanitoba.ca; Bison men's hockey head coach Mike Sirant at email: mike.sirant@umanitoba.ca or Tannis Corfield at e-mail: tanniscorfield@hotmail.com.