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"50/50 Raffle to support Special Olympics," Debbie Lietuvninkas yelled as she walked around the concourse of Arena at Harbor Yard. Lietuvninkas, one of the many dedicated members of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Booster Club, has always been a driving force behind the numerous projects that the club partakes in throughout the season.

"There is a lot of good that can be achieved when people rally together for a cause," Lietuvninkas said. "The booster members are of all ages, from young children to grandparents and the fact that they donate their time to raise funds for charity is heartwarming."

As the Sound Tigers were winning the Eastern Conference Championship in their inaugural 2001-02 season, fans flocked to the arena to become a part of their local team. Current Booster Club president, Jeff Krupel, was a charter member of the club starting the group following the inaugural season with several other members including team photographer Rich Stieglitz.

The need for an organized group to support these young professionals with the hopes of graduating to the NHL level was there. So, as the 2002-03 season began, the Sound Tigers Booster Club was there in full force. The support has not stopped since as the club now has officers and a large following behind them to spread the word into the community about Sound Tigers hockey.

"It is important to support the team at both home and away games," Krupel said. "They can count on us no matter how good or bad they play, we will be there to cheer them on."

The office staff receives a lot of support from the booster club as well. The club's official bakers, Karen Benway (Vice President) and Valerie Sielert (Member) frequently spread their generosity by supplying cookies and muffins for the staff to enjoy. On giveaway nights, members wait at the doors to help distribute giveaways such as bobble-head dolls or trading card sets.

"Having a motivated group of fans like our booster club members is a blessing in disguise for our organization," president Howard Saffan said. "The amount of time they volunteer behind the scenes to promote our team is invaluable."

This season, the Booster Club presented donations to numerous charities in the area such as the Ronald McDonald House, Bridgeport Pediatric Hospital, Bridge Academy, Special Olympics, American Diabetes, Autism Awareness, Make a Wish Foundation, the Jennifer Ferraro Foundation, the Umbrella Foundation for battered women and children and the American Cancer Society.

Volunteering and raising money for charities is a time consuming deed, but like everyone else, the booster club does take time to kick back and relax. They host numerous gatherings outside of the games.

"We have two dinners, one held half way through the season and the other at the end where players attend to receive our year end awards," Krupel said. "We also have general membership meetings each month where we discuss various aspects on how to help the team."

The Sound Tigers boosters competed in a broomball game against the Hershey Bears booster club on March 11. Rob Rossi (Member) scored the game's lone goal and the Sound Tigers boosters won the game 1-0 and received a rousing ovation from the rest of the dedicated Sound Tiger fans at the game.

"The most memorable moment I've experienced as a Sound Tiger Booster Club member was attending the Islanders game when Wade Dubielewicz helped the team clinch the final playoff spot," Lietuvninkas said with her Dubielewicz All-Star jersey on. "Experiencing these monumental moments with the players is exciting, especially when we can make real connections with them as part of the Sound Tigers Booster Club."

To join the Booster Club check out www.soundtigerbooster.com and fill out an application or contact the club at bstbcinfo@soundtigerbooster.com.