By Owen Sienko
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Syracuse University Men’s Club Ice Hockey Team will honor victims of breast cancer in its annual Pink the Rink game at 6:30 p.m. Friday night. The event will cap off over a month of fundraising by the team for Susan G. Komen.
Before the puck drops at Tennity Ice Pavilion, a representative from Susan G. Komen will join the Orange on the ice to talk about the foundation. The rep will rejoin the team on the ice after the game to announce and accept the donation total.
During the game, Syracuse players will sport pink jerseys and stick tape to celebrate the strength of breast cancer victims and survivors.
Meanwhile, the promotional table has a lot to offer to those in attendance. Fans who donate at the front table will be gifted pink lanterns to mark with the names of friends and family members who have battled breast cancer.
Players, staff members, and fans who wrote in with the names of breast cancer survivors will have their friends and family honored in a program at the front table.
One such player is junior forward Lucas Prestamo, whose godmother is a breast cancer survivor. Prestamo said he is excited to play in his first Pink the Rink game with the Orange.
“I’m looking forward to finally being able to put on the pink #12 which will be extra special for me since I just found out that my godmother will be in attendance for the game,” he said.
Sophomore forward Tim Kalinowski said he will be dedicating his performance on Friday to his friend, Ian, who lost his mother to breast cancer.
“We’re supposed to say the approach is the same for every game but there’s no doubt that this game brings a little bit more emotion,” Kalinowski said. “When you put that pink jersey on you’re reminded that life is far more important than sports.”
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By email: oasienko@syr.edu
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