Paul Bissonnette takes Ice Bucket Challenge to new heights

Amazing what hockey players can accomplish on their down time with a bit of ice.

And a bucket.

Many of the NHLs top stars are taking part in the charity event of the summer, dousing themselves with ice water in an effort to raise money for research into ALS, the devastating neurodegenerative disorder also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

After posting videos of their own drenching, Ice Bucket Challenge participants nominate others to take part and keep the ball rolling. The person on the receiving end of the challenge must accept within 24 hours or make a $100 donation to ALS research. 

Top Line: Ex-Leafs player nominates coach. Is it revenge? Plus more must-reads

The amazing thing is, unlike so many other viral efforts, this one appears to be working, in terms of both raising awareness and funds. “We are seeing 10 times the number of online donations every day,” Carol Hamilton, the director of the ALS Therapy Institute of Massachusetts told the Boston Herald. “We are seeing an incredible number of people who didn’t know much about ALS last week and who do today.”

And that level of awareness will continue to spike as long as guys like Paul Bissonnette are involved. The free agent winger was challenged by former Coyotes teammate Keith Yandle and, in true BizNasty fashion, took his acceptance to the extreme.

Bissonnette teased his Twitter followers on Monday with a preview photo of him being doused from a helicopter while posed at the peak of some mountainous terrain. He promised to release the full video on Tuesday.

You know it's going to be good. So the only questions now are, who will Bissonnette challenge? And how will they top his bit?