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Hockey shows off its softer side


If it’s taking you a while to adjust to the idea that MLBers on occasion use pink bats, then you might want to watch your college hockey on a black and white television set this weekend. But don’t be alarmed if you come across your favorite team looking oh so pretty in pink because it’s for a good cause: fighting cancer.

I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting them to be as bright as they were. They’re bright,” [Fredonia State men’s hockey] assistant coach Greg Heffernan said, recalling when the special-order uniforms first arrived. “And the best part of it is, that’s definitely making a statement.”

And a colorful one at that as Fredonia — 50 miles south of Buffalo — joins most every school across the country by taking part in this weekend’s NCAA-sponsored promotion to raise both money and awareness for the American Cancer Society.

“We might get termed the `Pink Devils’ for the game,” Heffernan said. “But that would be fine by us.

Pink hockey jerseys shouldn’t be anything too shocking. After all, we’ve seen pink bats, pink socks, pink ribbons, pink jerseys, pink shoes and so on and so and so on. But have you ever seen a pink rink? No? Well, you need go no further than Mississauga, Ontario this Wednesday evening to think pink and watch some hard-hitting St. Michael’s Majors hockey.

The theme that evening will be breast cancer awareness and the colour pink will be resonating throughout the building. For that night only, the ice will be painted pink, which is a first in the history of the OHL. Also, the Majors will be wearing special, pink jerseys, which will be auctioned off on their web site (www.stmichaelsmajors.com) during the week following the event. And, the referees will be decked out in pink jerseys as well.

Links:

[Associated Press]: Fredonia Hockey Pink to Fight Cancer
[OurSportsCentral.com]: Majors Plan to “Paint the Rink Pink”