CELTICS GREAT TOMMY HEINSOHN TO ATTEND
RED CLAWS APRIL 3 GAME

8-Time NBA Champion to Help Team Celebrate Red Claws Fans on Fan Appreciation Night

PORTLAND, ME - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Quirk Chevrolet, today announced that Boston Celtics great Tommy Heinsohn will join the team on Saturday, April 3 for the Red Claws final game of their inaugural season. Heinsohn will be on hand to help the team celebrate Fan Appreciation Night, as the team salutes Crustacean Nation.

“It is an honor to have Tommy Heinsohn join us for one of our games, especially the final one of our inaugural season,” said Red Claws President and General Manager Jon Jennings. “April 3 will be our opportunity to thank the fans of Crustacean Nation for their incredible support in this our first season. Having Tommy, who is someone I have always greatly admired, will add so much to the event, and we hope our fans will enjoy the opportunity to see one of the all-time greats of the game.”

In 1956, Heinsohn was chosen as the Boston Celtics ‘regional’, or ‘territorial’, draft pick, and in just his first season, played in an NBA All-Star Game, was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and won his first championship ring. Part of a Celtics squad that won eight NBA titles in nine years, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones won more championship rings during their playing careers than Heinsohn. He was named to six All-Star teams and scored 12,194 career points. Heinsohn’s number 15 was retired by the Celtics in 1965. He was named the Celtics head coach in 1969 and accumulated a career coaching record of 427–263, including Coach of the Year honors in 1972-73 and an NBA title in 1976. Named to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986, Heinsohn in recent years has worked as a color commentator for Celtics broadcasts.

The Red Claws have just two home games remaining in the 2009-10 regular season. The team will face the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on April 2 on Celtics Affiliate Night during which the team will wear the jerseys of their parent club. The team will wrap up the regular season on April 3 with Fan Appreciation Night. The April 3 game will also be broadcast nationally on Versus. The tape-delayed broadcast will begin at 11:00 PM on April 3. Tickets for remain for both games and may be purchased online at www.maineredclaws.com, by phone at 207-210-6655 or in person at the Red Claws offices located at 413 Congress Street in Portland. The team’s offices are open Monday-Friday 8:30 – 6:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.