Twin Cities Sports Personalities Added to Poker Tournament

Radio Host Mackey, Hockey Analyst Gorg, and PA Voice Jonckowski to Appear

 

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League Foundation has added three Twin Cities’ sports personalities to the list of celebrities that will be participating in the Northwoods League Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament on Monday night, January 31 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN. Radio host and poker entrepreneur Phil Mackey, hockey and horse racing analyst Kevin Gorg, and public address announcer Dick Jonckowski have all agreed to be part of the Foundation’s first event.

 

Phil Mackey is a weekday afternoon co-host of the Reusse & Mackey show on 1500 ESPN in the Twin Cities. He’s also the co-founder of the Minnesota State Poker Tour as well as editor and publisher of the Minnesota Poker Magazine.

 

Kevin Gorg has been the track analyst for Canterbury Park’s live horse racing for the last decade. In recent years he’s displayed his hockey knowledge to a regional audience as a hockey analyst for Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Gophers and high school hockey on Fox Sports North. Gorg is also a former college hockey coach and high school state championship winning goaltender in Minnesota.

 

Dick Jonckowski will emcee the festivities on January 31. The “Voice of The Gophers” is no stranger to emceeing Northwoods League events having done so for recent All-Star Game banquets in Mankato and Madison. Nicknamed “The Polish Eagle”, Dick has been a guest speaker and emcee since 1965. He’s been the public address announcer for Minnesota gopher baseball and basketball since 1986. His motto is “Laugh and Live Longer”.

 

Tournament Information

 

The cost to play in the poker tournament is a $250 donation to the Northwoods League Foundation. Poker players can bring as many as three guests for $25 apiece. The guests will be able to watch the poker tournament and socialize. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be available. Cash prizes and other prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in the poker tournament and all poker players will have a chance to win door prizes. The celebrities will play for a charity of their choice. There will be a silent auction featuring sports memorabilia, game tickets, and experiences with Northwoods League and sports celebrities.

 

The event will begin with a social hour from 6-7 p.m. followed by celebrity introductions. The poker tournament will start at 7:30. All guests and eliminated players will be able to watch the poker tournament or continue with the social gathering throughout the night.

 

Some of the other celebrities attending include: New York Yankees centerfielder Curtis Granderson, poker professional Jason Senti who won $1.3 million as the seventh place finisher in the 2010 World Series of Poker, Minnesota Twins batting coach Joe Vavra, former La Crosse Logger and winner of the ABC reality show “True Beauty” Taylor Bills, Detroit Tigers rookie infielder and former Northwoods League batting champion Danny Worth, and KFAN Radio host and voice of the Minnesota Vikings Paul Allen.

 

Owners and general managers from many of the teams in the Northwoods League will be in attendance as well. Register online at www.northwoodsleague.com.

 

What is the Northwoods League Foundation?

The Northwoods League Foundation was formed in early 2010 as a vehicle for the Northwoods League to further achieve the goals of its Mission Statement, which language concludes with “enrich the quality of life in its member communities.”

In addition to the many needs this not-for-profit foundation may address, one will be to view its member communities and look upon the programs they have in place with a harmonious goal of making them all finer places to live.

Much of the activity of the foundation will be to utilize the numerous alumni and members of the Northwoods League, capitalizing on their respective achievements on and off the field. Through various and creative fund raising methods, Northwoods League fans will have unique opportunities to interact with, participate with and help raise money with various alumni and members of the League.

The Foundation has a seven-member Board of Directors that will be in charge of leading the organization now and into the future as it embarks on this exciting new venture.