Sentinel & Enterprise Sports: Pink on the Rink event is 'bigger than a hockey game'
By Nick Mallard, nmallard@sentinelandenterprise.com FITCHBURG -- It's no secret that many -- if not most -- athletes are creatures of habit. No matter the sport, pre-game rituals and preparations exist. Even in games, small things that have worked in the past are relied upon as markers of good luck. Change isn't always welcome.
By Nick Mallard, nmallard@sentinelandenterprise.com
FITCHBURG -- It's no secret that many -- if not most -- athletes are creatures of habit.
No matter the sport, pre-game rituals and preparations exist. Even in games, small things that have worked in the past are relied upon as markers of good luck.
Change isn't always welcome.
But on Saturday at Fitchburg State University's Wallace Civic Center, change is coming. And for all involved, it's being embraced with open arms.
The Fitchburg State ice hockey team will host the second annual Pink on the Rink fundraiser for The Cup Crusaders with a tripleheader of hockey action taking place on ice that will glow bright pink rather than white. The proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure, which aims to find a remedy for breast cancer.
"It's a little different and it's for a great cause," Falcons head coach Dean Fuller said. "It gets the whole hockey community and community in general to come together for something important. And I think a lot of people buy tickets because it's such a great a cause.
"We're obviously very excited about doing this again."
Starting Wednesday night, crews will be hard at work at the Wallace Civic Center, shaving down the ice and applying coats of paint to turn it a bold pink for Saturday's contests.
Last year's event raised more than $10,000 and Fuller hopes that having four local high school programs join in with Fitchburg State will help raise even more.
In addition to a 4 p.m. tilt between the Falcons and conference foe Plymouth State, rivals Leominster and Fitchburg/Monty Tech will square off at 6:10 p.m., followed by a game between Lunenburg/Ayer Shirley and St. Bernard's.
Leominster and Fitchburg had taken part in the event last year, but for Lunenburg and St. B's, it will be their first time playing a contest on pink ice.
"I know our kids are excited to not only play, but to raise money for the cause. It really is an honor to be part of it," Lunenburg head coach Eric Short said. "I think it's something that the players, the parents and the schools and administrations are proud to be part of.
"It's a great opportunity for the kids and the program to be part of an event like this. It's a chance for them to contribute to something that's bigger than a hockey game."
Leominster's experience on pink ice in 2016 was a positive one, rolling to a 7-3 victory over Fitchburg in front of a full house.
Blue Devils head coach Casey Beaulac says playing a rival school during such an event only adds to "an unbelievable atmosphere."
"Rivalry games are great on their own, but with it being a special event, it means so much more," Beaulac said. "It was great to follow the college game and have a ton of people there to see it."
Even having fallen in his team's inaugural contest on colored ice, Fitchburg head coach Steve Lowney believes that his Red Raiders were proud to be part of Pink on the Rink.
"These kids know they're part of something bigger than a game and they took it seriously last year," Lowney said. "Everyone's life gets touched by cancer, so the players know that win or lose, they're helping to make a difference."
Short says his Blue Knights will don pink laces in their skates with pink tape on their sticks for the occasion. They likely won't be alone in showing their support in a visual way on the ice.
"I'm sure the kids on our team have seen cancer affect someone they know," St. Bernard's head coach Gerry Murray said. It's everywhere and this game is for a great cause so we're really happy to be able to show support for it.
"We're really looking forward to it. I'm glad we were invited."
In 2016, Fitchburg State senior hockey player Nat Rojas was able to honor his mother, Gretchen, during the Pink on the Rink game. Gretchen Rojas, a breast cancer survivor, was in attendance to drop the ceremonial first puck and Nat Rojas sparked a third-period comeback for the Falcons in the contest.
This year, Fuller says the team will honor one of his college friends who is currently battling breast cancer, giving the game extra meaning for the coach.
"Hopefully if you find a cure for breast cancer, it opens up the door to find cures for other cancers," he said.
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