UPDATE: $20K in Donations Made to Minnesota Youth Hockey – Minnesota Youth Hockey to Benefit from 11 Year Old’s Miracle Shot

RENO, Nev., August 29, 2011 – Odds On Promotions, the Reno, Nev. based promotions company that insured the hockey shot made by 11‐year‐old Nate Smith in place of his identical twin brother Nick, will make a $20,000.00 donation in the name of Nate and Nick Smith to youth hockey in the State of Minnesota. The fundraising promotion, sponsored by Bashers/Topview Grill and GrandStay Residential Suites, took place at the annual “Shattuck vs. the World” charity hockey game in Faribault, Minn. on August 11. Due to contractual breaches and legal implications, the company is unable to pay the claim as submitted.

“We greatly respect the eventual honesty of the Smith family,” Mark Gilmartin, President of Odds On Promotions, said. “Although we’re unable to the pay the claim on Nate’s incredible shot, we are confident our donation will help foster a positive environment for present and future youth hockey in Minnesota.”

“We are grateful to Odds On Promotions for making a donation in our sons’ names to these two very worthy organizations. This reinforces our belief that at the end of the day, we, as a family, made the right decision and demonstrates to our sons that, in the end, honesty is the best policy,” stated Pat Smith.

The $20,000.00 donation will benefit the Owatonna Youth Hockey Association in which Nick and Nate Smith compete and the Faribault Youth Hockey Association, the original beneficiary of the promotion.

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10/1/2011 Update: An updated article on Nick and Nate Smith has been released on the Faribault Daily News Website.  both Nick and Nate are shown with $10,000 presentation checks which were given to the Faribault Hockey Association and the Owatonna Youth Hockey Association.

Greg Starkson, President of the Faribault Hockey Association President, said that the association will likely end up using the money for equipment, scholarship applications as well as additional ice time… but the final decision will not be made until the board gets together to discuss the matter further.

Vicki Mayer, Secretary of the Owatonna Youth Hockey Association, said she has been discussing various options with the Smith family already and would like for them to be part of the final decision as to what to do with the donation.

According to Vinar Jr., the organizer of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s vs. The World hockey game in which Nate Smith made the incredible 89-foot hockey shot,  “It couldn’t have come out any better for both the Faribault and Owatonna youth hockey associations. “I think it was a win-win.”