ANOTHER PHOENIX "RACERS NIGHT"
Coyotes fans JAMES and SHARON MADURA are
pictured (above) at a March 2009 Phoenix Coyotes
game. Director Timothy Gassen couldn't believe his
eyes at the game — he never thought he'd see another Indianapolis Racers jersey in Phoenix, let alone two.
James is wearing PAUL HOGANSON's 1977 game
jersey, and Sharon is wearing the "Junior Racers"
game jersey James wore as a teenage hockey
player in Indy. Go Racers! Go Coyotes!


The downtown Phoenix location of Space 55, host for
the July 18 Arizona premiere of "Gretzky, Indy & The
WHA"

ARIZONA PREMIERE SCREENING:
a benefit by the Coyotes Booster Club for Coyotes Charities

at the Space 55 Theater
636 E. Pierce St
Phoenix, Arizona
Saturday, July 18, 2009
_______________________________________________________________

Arizona filmmaker Timothy Gassen brought his new 2-DVD box set “Gretzky, Indy & The WHA” to Phoenix for a special charity screening on Saturday, July 18.

The screening was presented by the Phoenix Coyotes Booster Club as a fundraiser to purchase Coyotes season tickets for donation to the Coyotes Charities Tickets for Kids program.

“Gretzky, Indy & The WHA” explores the wild era of the 1970s World Hockey Association – a major league rival that merged with the NHL in 1979. It includes newly found and never-seen-before footage of Wayne Gretzky in his first moments as a major leaguer, with the 1978 WHA Indianapolis Racers.

“The parallels of what Wayne Gretzky and Indianapolis went through in 1978 and what the Phoenix Coyotes are battling in 2009 are remarkable,” Gassen said. “But the Coyotes will stay and thrive in Phoenix, and I know their fans will be excited to see the beginnings of the greatest hockey player of all time.”

Former WHA player Jim Niekamp and WHA author Scott Surgent joined Gassen in a meet-and-greet after the screening to discuss the WHA era with fans.

Special thanks to Heather Schroeder and Dave Horn of the Coyotes Booster Club for inviting us to Phoenix. We hope this is the start of a successful collaboration to support hockey in Arizona!
_______________________________________________________________

BACK TO THE MAIN DVD PAGE HERE