Jake Windbiel of Elk Grove Village Part of the Winning Team at the Beko Home Appliances 1-on-1 Challenge

At the recent Beko Home Appliances 1-on-1 Challenge, Squirt youth hockey players engaged in a shootout competition at MB Ice Arena on Jan. 3. The finalists were shooter Ilija Marich, 10, Evanston, Ill.; goalie Bella DiSilvestro, 10, Roselle, Ill.; shooter Dylan Kaye, 10, Beecher, Ill.; and goalie Jake Windbiel, 9, Elk Grove Village, Ill. The four were paired up to play for the championship in front of a sellout crowd at the United Center during the intermission of the Chicago Blackhawks home game on Jan. 7. The winning team of Kaye and Windbiel will attend the 2018 NHL® All-Star Game in Tampa Bay from Jan. 27-28 to compete against other Squirt-age winners from around the NHL.

Beko US joined the Chicago Blackhawks star-studded lineup with its sponsorship of MB Ice Arena - Chicago Blackhawks Community Rink and Chicago youth hockey. Beko, the #1 European freestanding home appliance brand recently introduced into the North American market, is based in the Chicago area.

Beko has a permanent presence at MB Ice Arena with two board signs on each of the facility's two NHL-sized ice rinks. The arena is not only the practice home for the Chicago Blackhawks, but also a critical community space that offers programming, beginner hockey classes, youth & high school hockey leagues, and public skate. It is also home to adult recreational hockey leagues, elite-level tournaments, and fundraising events.

"One high-performing team deserves another," said Hasan Yardimci, president, Beko US, Inc. "Beko is committed to the value of teamwork and giving families more time to play."

To help young athletes eat well, Beko's EverFresh technology keeps food fresher three times longer than the average refrigerator - for up to 30 days. Beko's Active Fresh Blue Light technology simulates natural lighting conditions, extending the photosynthesis process in the refrigerator, to help keep fruits and vegetables fresh up to 30 percent longer, and retain vitamins and nutrients.

Superstar features on other Beko home appliances allow busy moms and dads to cook meals more quickly and efficiently, clean dishes better with less noise, water and energy, and wash and dry clothes quickly.

"Our appliances provide smart meaningful solutions, backed by state-of-the-art technology and award-winning energy-efficiency that truly improve families' lives," Yardimci said.