UNH MEN'S HOCKEY TO CELEBRATE SECOND ANNUAL OPERATION HAT TRICK NIGHT

DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire athletic department will host its second annual Operation Hat Trick night at the Men's Hockey game versus Providence on Friday, February 12 at 7:00 p.m.

Operation Hat Trick was created in the fall of 2008, and is dedicated to Chief Petty Officer Nate Hardy, a Navy SEAL and son of a UNH professor and his wife, who was killed while on a covert mission in Iraq. Operation Hat Trick provides blue and white baseball caps to injured soldiers. For every two hats sold, a third is donated to VA Medical Centers around the country. Hats have already made their way to VA Medical Centers in Manchester, N.H., West Roxbury, Mass., La Jolla, Calif., and now Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

The second annual Operation Hat Trick Night will provide fans the opportunity to donate to Operation Hat Trick buy purchasing raffle tickets to win one of three team signed hats. Proceeds will go to benefit the NH VA Medical Center's Recreation Therapy program. Hats will be available for sale at the game at the Friends of Hockey merchandise booth.

In conjunction with this night, fans are encouraged to support the local Pease Greeters who meet and greet the troops arriving and departing out of Pease Air Force base in Portsmouth, N.H. UNH Athletics will be collecting items at the Box Office and on the night of the game, for care packages for the troops from now until the game on February 12th. Anyone who brings an item to the Box Office for donation will be eligible to purchase a reserved ticket for the men's hockey game on the 12th for $11.

See below for a complete list of appropriate items you can donate:

TOILETRY ITEMS 8oz. or TRAVEL SIZE (NO AEROSOLS)
Chapstick, Conditioner, Shampoo, Sanitary Items, Deodorant, Handi-wipes, Tylenol, Aspirin, Shave Gel, Cotton balls, Cotton mid-calf white socks, Flip-Flops, Air Fresheners, Foot powder, Handwarmers, toothbrushes, inner soles, Q-Tips, eye drops, bug spray

FOOD ITEMS, INDIVIDUALLY PACKED TO SHARE
Cookies, Nuts, Dried Fruit, Hard Candy, Pop tarts. Granola bars, Coffee 1lb. size, drink mixes to add to water, Gum, Mints, Trail mix, Microwave popcorn, etc.

FUN STUFF/GAMES
Frisbees, small games, UNO, Dice, cards, volleyballs, soccer balls, etc.

ITEMS NOT TO SEND
Adult magazines/books, pork products.

A military discount of $11.00 will be given to all active and veteran military members. Call the Whittemore Center Box Office at (603) 862-4000 ext. 5 to place an order.

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