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By JONATHAN DUNCAN
There are few things that Joe
Fresta enjoys more than playing
hockey and helping others in need.
Fresta, an avid hockey player,
fell in love with the game in his
youth while playing on a frozen
pond in St. Louis’ Clifton Park.
Later in life, he battled testicular
cancer not once, but twice. Afterward,
he said he felt he should do
something to help those who may
not be blessed with the resources
to battle the disease like he did.
Enter the Steinberg Winter Classic.
Created in 2012, the weekend
of hockey raises money for
the Cancer Care Foundation, a
501[c][3] organization that provides
assistance with doctor visits,
transportation costs to and from chemotherapy
and radiation treatments, pharmaceutical
expenses, child and/or sibling
care, emotional therapy and nutrition
consultation.
“It just came to me that I could do it to
raise money for families who are fighting
cancer,” Fresta said.
Two years after founding the Steinberg
Winter Classic, Fresta decided to add the
Legends of Hockey dinner as an extra
fundraiser.
“When you have a diagnosis of cancer,
it’s stressful enough and, a lot of times,
if you have a financial situation on top of
it, it’s a life-changing situation for these
folks,” Fresta said. “A lot of time what
happens is somebody gets sick with this
and they get too sick to work and they get
let go or they have to stay home and take
care of a loved one and they can no longer
work and then they get let go. So, what
happens then is the bills start to pile up.”
Fresta said he was fortunate to have a
support system and resources available
to him that helped him beat the disease.
“I was very fortunate to have the financial
wherewithal to deal with the expense
and not have to worry about that part of it
and I also had a great support system of
friends and family,” Fresta said.
When he started the Classic, he consulted
with oncologists and social workers to
identify where the proceeds would be best
used. They told him there was no real help
being provided to cancer families then and
that most funds were being put to research
to find cures. His decision was made.
“At the end of the year, we write out
two checks from our Cancer Care Foundation,”
Fresta said. “One goes to Siteman
Cancer Center to help families
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Garry Unger returns to St. Louis
for Legends of Hockey dinner
Garry Unger during his days as St. Louis Blues captain
and the other goes to Mercy Health and
that money goes directly to help those
people.”
Each year, the dinner features a
bonafide legend of hockey. This year,
that’s St. Louis Blues legend “Iron Man”
Garry Unger. Hockey commentator
Darren Pang will serve as the master of
ceremonies.
Unger will talk about his superb career
with the Blues, the trade that sent him to
the Detroit Red Wings for Red Berenson,
as well as his Iron Man consecutive
game streak.
“Darren has been with me since day one
and he has a far reach in North America.
We have him, sort of, as host and emcee
with whoever the Legend is that year,”
Fresta said. “Garry Unger has been a fan
favorite for years and hasn’t been around
a whole lot since he left St. Louis, so a
lot of people are excited to kind of find
out what he’s been up since his days here
in the ‘70s. It’s going to be a great night.”
Tickets still are available for the March
18 dinner, though Fresta predicts a sellout.
Seats are $200 per person and tables are
available with seating for four, six and
10 guests. The dinner is held at Flemings
Steak House, 1855 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
For more information on the dinner or
donating, visit steinbergwinterclassic.
com or call (314) 320-8019 for dinner
reservations.
Fresta said one of the best parts of
the dinner is when someone who has
received aid from the Foundation steps
up to speak.
“They ... talk about their [cancer] experience
and what we did for them,” Fresta
said. “It’s just a great part of the evening.”