November 3, 2009
A good hockey coach will tell you the game consists of a series of small but important battles - player versus player, possession after possession, shift after shift – which collectively add up to games.
But recently, the USHL and its players have joined together to fight a bigger battle, that's no game at all – the fight against cancer.
The Sioux City Musketeers held their second annual "Pink in the Rink" event during the Saturday, October 23rd game at the Tyson Center versus Team USA. While a pink ribbon is the international symbol of breast cancer awareness, the color pink isn't normally associated with the tough-guy mentality of hockey players.
Just tell that to the Musketeers, who adopted the color for their home game jerseys and even had the ice surface dyed with a pink tint for this special night. The night had an even greater significance for Musketeers forward Ryan Kesti, whose mother June is recovering from breast cancer after being diagnosed three years ago. Kesti and his mother joined Michael Paliotta of Team USA and his mother Trish, also a breast cancer survivor, for a ceremonial puck drop prior to the game.
It was only fitting that Kesti scored his first goal of the season during the game, the winning tally for the Musketeers in overtime. Shortly after, the forward's pink jersey earned the one of the highest bids in the post-game charity auction – which the anonymous bidder then graciously presented the jersey to Kesti's mother. The money raised through the auction, along with $3 from every ticket sold to the game, generated more than $47,000, all of which was donated to the Siouxland chapter of Susan G. Koman for the Cure.
(Click here for game story, courtesy of the Sioux City Journal)
(Video - game highlights)
The Fargo Force hosted their own "Pink in the Rink" night on October 30th and also took to the ice on a surface dyed pink at the Urban Plains Center. Portions of proceeds from ticket sales and a post-game jersey auction were donated to the Mark Kay Foundation, which supports the battle against cancer.
The Green Bay Gamblers also got in on the pink theme as they also showcased the color for their game jerseys on October 24th against the Indiana Ice. A post-game auction of their uniforms and portion of ticket sales from the game benefitted the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic. The game was also designated as the annual "Caps for Cancer" night as a record 2,953 hats were tossed to the ice after the Gamblers scored their first goal of the season. The headwear was donated to Heavenly Hats, a non-profit organization that provides hats to those stricken with cancer.
(Video - Gamblers support of Caps for Cancer)
(Video - Green Bay Gamblers fans toss the caps)
Gamblers players raised awareness in another, even more special way, as the entire team chose to have their heads shaved prior to the game. "It was a great sign of team camaraderie," said Jon Cooper, Gamblers head coach. "I asked the team if a couple guys would participate to support the cause, but when I walked into the locker room, all 23 guys said they wanted to do it. It is really a sign of what we believe in as a team and becoming a staple in the community."
(Video - Gamblers shave their heads)
In Kearney, Nebraska, the Tri-City Storm players took the fight off-ice, donning pink-accented tuxedos during the city's "Simply Pink Style Show." The models for the event, which showcased different ways to wear to the color pink, were all breast cancer survivors and patients, escorted on stage by Storm players. It was the third consecutive season that the team has taken part in the show, which celebrates those who have defeated the illness and moved on to live healthy and normal lives.
The newest USHL Member Club, the Youngstown Phantoms, got into the act hosting a jersey auction of their own on Saturday, October 24th with proceeds donated to the American Cancer Society. The Phantoms also welcomed several groups to the game who were participating in Relay for Life, an event hosted by the American Cancer Society designed to raise awareness and celebrate survivorship.
Promotions in Waterloo on Saturday benefitted the Beyond Pink TEAM, a local organization supporting patients recovering from breast cancer in the Cedar Valley. The Black Hawks auctioned pink sticks, officials' jerseys, coaches' ties, and sold pink merchandise to support the charity.
And earlier in October, the Lincoln Stars raised over $4,000 for the American Cancer Society through ticket and merchandise sales. The Stars will also host a jersey auction later this season for the cause.
Even the zebras were pink, as the USHL's on-ice refereeing crews for the weekend contributed to the cause by wearing special black and pink uniforms that were auctioned during the theme nights. Many of the young officials – rising stars in their own right within the world of hockey officiating – made an even more generous commitment, donating their game earnings from the night to the local charities selected by the USHL Clubs.
As hockey coaches tell their players, you win the big fight by winning the little ones. The League and its teams won a lot of little ones over the course of Cancer Awareness month; the big fight goes on.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 31st season of elite junior hockey in 2009-10. With over 150 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 13 NHL Entry Draft picks currently on League rosters, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com.
It's not just hockey. It's the USHL.
