TYSA would like to thanks all of those that graciously contributed toys to be donated to Children's Hospital during the. TYSA. Coaches game on December 13.
Regardless of what the score was, TYSA Head Coach Herb Post, who was unanimously voted game MVP by his peers, was quoted as saying this about the game; "There were no winners or losers, this game was all about the kids".
The toys will be donated in memory of fallen TYSA player Lia DiFronzo.
Lia DiFronzo was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia in 2006. She had just finished the Learn to Skate program and was looking forward to joining the Instructional Mite Program. In April of 2007, after months of struggling through treatments, Lia was finally going to get to play in a game. The plan was for her play during the last minute of a game in an I-Mite tournament. Lia wasn't going to settle for anything less than the whole game. On her first shift, she took the puck from center and, on a breakaway, scored the first goal of the game. Lia played the entire game. She was a fighter and she was determined to accomplish every goal she set. This was the only game she ever played. She relapsed and received a second bone marrow transplant in October 2007. She spent most of the next 12 months in Children's Hospital. She passed away on October 6, 2008. Lia did more good in her 8 years than many of us will do in a lifetime. She touched the lives of so many and her smile lit up the world. If there is a hockey rink in Heaven, Lia's wings are flying her towards the net to score another goal.
