Flyers Wives Carnival still a great family event

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Dominic Novelli and his family have been coming to the Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival since 2006.

I like seeing people, the players and doing different things here, said the South Philly native.

I like the Wii boxing. I fought Dan Carcillo last year and beat him. It was a rematch. I lost the year before.

Novelli, his son, Dominic Jr. and wife, Donna milled about on the event level headed for the goalie cage.

I like the games, his son said. Im going to score on Ilya Bryzgalov.

Doesnt everybody these days?

Donna Novelli has a collection of photos of herself at home with Flyer players over the years.

Who was her choice this year? Thats easy.

Jaromir Jagr, she smiled. I love it. Its fun, you see players and the best part of all, it all goes to a good cause -- the charity.

Craig Taylor, from Ridley Park, began coming to the Carnival when he was seven years old, with his parents.

Now he brings his wife, Tori and daughters Madison and Kalya.

Me and wife came once when we were engaged, Craig Taylor said. Weve been coming eight years. Madison is a huge Danny Briere fan. We had to rush in and get the picture with Danny.

The Taylor family picked up a couple of grab bags with surprises in them.

We havent even opened them yet, Tori said.

Daughter Kalya planned to challenge Claude Giroux on one of the Wii games.

This was the 35th edition of the Carnival and third under Lauren Pronger and co-chair, Nadine Coburn.

Its pretty amazing, Lauren Pronger said. Everything is going pretty smooth. I think they perfected it.

She admits its gotten easier to handle from an administrative standpoint, although Lauren also helps out on the floor, handing out the grab bags.

The first year, it was very overwhelming and I had heard about it being a legendary event, she said.

So when you actually come, it kinda blows you away. By the second year, I kinda getting the hang of it. And now its old hat.

This is a very special event. To see the support and the city and see the numbers and how much we can raise and give back to all these charities, its very special.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net

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