Honoring Karyn and Devin

Each year we have a special guest to drop the puck for the Alumni game. In 2008, Karyn Jordan (who suffered from a neuromuscular disorder), was awarded a Quick Ramp through a program at UCP/Detroit. That same year, Daniel Elkus (then a high school student) raised funds to create a video about the QuickRamps For Kids program and featured the Jordan family.

Since that time the video and the Jordan family have helped raise funds so that other families could also be awarded portable wheelchair ramps. At the 2009 UCP/Detroit Red Wing Alumni Charity Hockey Event Karyn was the honorary puck dropper. The faceoff featured UCP players Tom Hillebrand and Mike Ward as well as Detroit Red Wing Hall of Fame player and announcer Mickey Redmond. In Januray of 2019, Karyn tragically passed away. We salute her and her entire family.

In 2013, Devin Odom was our honorary puck-dropper and was joined at center ice by Frank Svincek, Devin’s mom, Dee Dee McKinney Odom, Mike Ward and the legendary Mickey Redmond. Devin lived with cerebral palsy but never let it slow him down and he graduated high school in 2018. Dee Dee McKinney Odom has been responsible for a yearly sponsorship from MGM Grand Detroit where she was the Director of Public Affairs until this past year. In August of 2018 Devin sadly passed away. As with Karyn, UCP/Detroit salutes him and his entire family.

As a way to honor both of these wonderful, bright youngsters and their families, the jersey of each UCP/Puckster player will display their initials.

This year the honorary puck dropper will be Eric Threlkeld who is a disabled athlete and a member of the Michigan Youth Sled Hockey Yellow Jackets.