Chicago takes on cancer as well as the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight as the city hosts its cancer awareness portion of the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer campaign during this Original Six matchup.
The Blackhawks’ unique lavender-laden warmup uniforms will join ties worn by coaches and announcers in an auction on chicagoblackhawks.com until 12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1.
Auction sale proceeds go to Chicago Blackhawks Charities, with portions being distributed to area cancer awareness associations. The NHL and NHLPA will also host an online auction of autographed game-used sticks from select players, taped with special lavender tape, on its site: auctions.nhl.com.
The ceremonial puck drop will be performed by Jack O’Donoghue, a 9-year-old from Carol Stream, Ill., who is battling Burkitt Lymphoma.
The Blackhawks have partnered with the Make-a-Wish and Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer foundations for a pregame on-ice recognition of six local children, while six more children will ride the Zambonis before the game and during each intermission.
The Make-a-Wish Foundation works to enrich the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions by granting wishes, which often serve as a source of inspiration for kids undergoing difficult medical treatments.
The Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a national organization dedicated to eliminating pediatric cancer and providing hope and support to those who are affected by it. The foundation has three unique programs: the Bear Hugs Program, Bear Discoveries and Bear Empowerment. The Bear Hugs Program customizes experiences aimed at brightening the lives of children diagnosed with cancer, in addition to providing financial and essential support to families.
For fans in attendance, the organization’s wives and girlfriends, known as Blackhawks Better Halves, will sell player-autographed pucks with lavender writing and logos. Proceeds from those puck sales, as well as the game’s split-the-pot raffle and silent auctions will all benefit Chicago Blackhawks Charities and local cancer awareness charities.
Cancer prevention and awareness groups will be posted throughout the concourse level. Hockey Fights Cancer gear will be sold in the Blackhawks Store near section 117.
This is Hockey Fights Cancer Month’s fifteenth year. The NHL and NHLPA is expected to donate more than $200,000 in grants to national and local cancer organizations in all 30 markets, bringing the total since the initiative’s 1998 start to approximately $13 million.
The game starts at 6 p.m. CT.
After some lackluster performance by the Blackhawks in recent games, Coach Joel Quenneville is mixing up lines against the Leafs tonight.
“We’re just trying to find the chemistry, the finish we need on each line,” Andrew Shaw said. “Everyone can play with everyone on this team, that’s what’s so great about it. But we just have to see what fits best right now.”
In practice, Marian Hossa joined the top line with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad. Patrick Kane was with Michal Handzus and Patrick Sharp on the second line. Bryan Bickell, Marcus Kruger and Andrew Shaw made up the third and Brandon Pirri anchored the fourth line with Brandon Bollig and Joakim Nordstrom.
“Scoring comes from confidence, when you’re getting the results you want and seeing the puck go in,” Toews said. “When you score a goal, you definitely feel the energy, play loose. When that happens more naturally, the rest of the game will come along, too.”
Asked if the team is nervous to take on Dave Bolland, who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for them last year, Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp joked, “”His tricks aren’t going to work against us. We’ve seen them far too many times.”
With Breast Cancer Awareness month in full swing, teams and players around the league are throwing their support behind the cause. But during last Saturday’s San Jose Sharks game, defenseman Jason Demers brought new meaning to our slogan, “even if you wear pink, you can still rock the rink.” Demers arrived at the SAP Center in San Jose donning a bright pink suit, all for a good cause.
For a player, donning a pink inspired piece of equipment is the easiest way to show the hockey world that breast cancer awareness has your full backing, but Demers took a different route.
Photo: @JeffMAdams
“We have a suit rep [Giovanni, that works with the NHL] that comes in every year, I was going through the fabric and it popped up. I thought it would be cool to do the pink suit, something simple for breast cancer awareness month. I asked him to make it as quickly as he could and he did a fantastic job getting it done. It turned out pretty nice and I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback from it.”
Some of that feedback coming from media and the fans, but within the locker room as well.
“The guys gave me a lot of laughs, but said it made sense that it would be me to wear it. Nothing too bad, not too much ribbing because everyone is supportive of a good cause. Obviously the color isn’t a normal one, but it’s for a good cause.”
With October being the official month of breast cancer awareness and a pink statement piece hanging in his closest, one can’t help but wonder if it’ll make a return to the rink before the months end.
“Maybe, we’ll see. I might wait until next year, but there’s a chance I’ll pull it out again. We only have one more home game, so it’s tough, but it’ll be more of a one year thing or every year during breast cancer awareness month.”
Often equipment and other memorabilia made specifically in support of the cause are auctioned off to raise money, a concept that hasn’t been ruled out, but isn’t on the table this season, yet.
“I think I need to build a little more notoriety on it, but for sure. It might be one of those things that down the line it’ll be a good thing. I had full outfits planned and I had shoes specially made with the breast cancer ribbon, but they didn’t get made in time. Maybe next year, if I get those I’ll wear it and think about selling it off.”
Photo: Sharks
With breast cancer awareness at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts, it’s important to note the support the NHL, teams and players give towards the Hockey Fights Cancer movement. Furthering that notion, players often relish in the opportunity to give back to the communities in which they play. On October 7th, Demers along with fellow teammates and Sharks personnel took time to visit the El Camino Oncology Center. Signing autographs and taking pictures aside, it was the opportunity to get to know the patients that touched Demers.
“It’s a very humbling experience, it’s something you need to see and do as a player and as a person. To see that we’re not all roses and tulips in life, some people have it hard. It was cool to meet some good people, they’re all amazing people. It touched me to talk with some of them, and get their story. I think it’s important to give back, especially with our occupation, we’re role models. If you can make one persons day, that’s enough I think.”
The Sharks are well known for lending time and support to charities, throughout the season, but the chance to give back doesn’t end when the cup is hoisted, it extends to the off-season months as well. While many players have their own charities and foundations, those who do not often opt to lend a glove where it’s needed.
“I don’t have any that I host on my own or charities that I’ve started, but I work a lot with Patrice Bergeron and his foundation for leukemia in kids. I know Ryan Clowe has a foundation in Newfoundland that I visit in the summer for kids as well. I try to help where I can and maybe one of these days I’ll start a foundation, but I try to visit whenever I can and I jump at the opportunity. It’s always fun to meet some great people.”
With the season in full swing and an east coast road trip on the horizon, the Sharks have managed to find success early in the season.
“We’ve had a good start to the season so far and it’s been about maintaining that. Offensively things have been going well for me and I’m trying to maintain that. It’s fun when your team is winning and having success as a team. It helps you individually as well. I think we just have to keep rolling and keep playing the way we’ve been playing. It’s fun to have the start we got and everyone benefits from it.”
Moving forward, the Sharks will look to capitalize on their success on the ice and continue to support the community and charitable initiatives off of it, in this case one pink suit at a time.
After feeling like they had to wait awhile, fans of the Grand Rapids Griffins got to see their team at home for the first time. The Griffins also raised the Calder Cup Championship banner in front of a sold out crowd. It was the only home game on the weekend for the Griffins, who head to Rockford for their game Saturday.
The Griffins have played 3 games already and all have been on the road. They opened the season in Rochester with an overwhelming 8-1 win over the Americans. Grand Rapids followed that game up with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Marlies the next night. Last weekend, the Griffins triumphed over the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-3 in a shootout.
Through the first three games, the Griffins have scored 15 goals. Those goals have come from 9 different players, including two from returning captain Jeff Hoggan. This season, the Griffins will try to defend the Calder Cup title. They have a strong group of players that are dedicated. Rookie defenseman Ryan Sproul and forward Tomas Jurco, returning for his sophomore season, have already been two that are making their presence known.
For their home opener, the Griffins took on the Milwaukee Admirals for the first of ten times this season. Last season, the two teams met 8 times with Grand Rapids going 3-4-0-1. The teams finished first and second in the division.
Although the result on the scoreboard was not what the Griffins hoped for, it was still a night to remember for fans and players alike as they held the ceremony. They raised the banner for winning the Calder Cup in front of their 18th straight sellout at home. The fans were on their feet long before they puck even dropped.
The Griffins must have been riding the energy in the building after raising their banner because it only took Gustav Nyquist 80 seconds to put the Griffins on the board. It was the third goal of the season for the winger.
Later in the first, after the halfway mark, the Milwaukee Admirals added a tall of their own. Anthony Bitetto put one past Petr Mrazek just before the penalty to the Griffins expired. It was his first goal of the season and a power play goal. But, that same period, Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan managed to retake the lead for the Griffins and send them into the first intermission 2-1.
The teams came back for the second and neither team looked like they would find the back of the net. At 17:56, Colton Sissons scored for his second on the season for the Admirals and tied the game at 2. Less than a minute later, Bitetto added his second of the game to give Milwaukee the lead.
Despite outshouting the Admirals in the game 26-20, the Griffins were not able to come back and get a win in their home opener. Ironically enough, this is exactly how the Griffins started their 2012-2013 season at home: a 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. Everyone in Grand Rapids will be hoping that history repeats itself.
Acton, MA – Bobby Orr is a hockey hero, a legend and that’s probably why over a whopping 1,100 fans clamored to the small town of Acton, Massachusetts for a chance to gain an autograph and see the ever popular retired Bruin.
With a set signing time of 6-8 pm, Orr showed real sportsmanship and shined light on his character in staying well past the allotted time slot, signing copies of the book for everyone in attendance. Orr, has been hitting the Boston local media circuit for his new autobiography Orr: My Story which hit bookstores October 15th.
Two lucky Pink Puck readers will win a copy of the book, be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for upcoming contest details.
“One of the greatest sports figures of all time at last breaks his silence in a memoir as unique as the man himself
Number 4. It is just about the most common number in hockey, but invoke that number and you can only be talking about one player—the man often referred to as the greatest ever to play the game: Bobby Orr.
From 1966 through the mid-70s, he could change a game just by stepping on the ice. Orr could do things that others simply couldn’t, and while teammates and opponents alike scrambled to keep up, at times they could do little more than stop and watch. Many of his records still stand today, and he remains the gold standard by which all other players are judged. But skill on the ice is only a part of his story. All the trophies, records, and press clippings leave unsaid as much about the man as they reveal. They tell us what Orr did, but don’t tell us what inspired him, who taught him, or what he learned along the way. They don’t tell what it was like for a shy small-town kid to become one of the most celebrated athletes in the history of the game, all the while in the full glare of the media. They don’t tell us what it was like when the agent he regarded as his brother betrayed him and resulted in financial ruin, at the same time his battered knee left him unable to play the game he had redefined only a few seasons earlier. They don’t tell what he thinks of the game of hockey today.
After decades of refusing to speak of his past in articles or in authorized biographies, Orr finally tells his story.” -Penguin Canada
By Jake Shoemaker
In hockey lore, Wayne Gretzky is unanimously considered the greatest player in NHL history. His 1983-1984 season, when he posted 2.77 points per game, was the most dominant offensive season ever. Gretzky’s career points per game average of 1.92 seems like an untouchable record. And, while that might be true, Sidney Crosby’s current point pace of 2.00 per game in the current season must be acknowledged as significant, especially considering today’s NHL. Yes, I recognize that we are only three weeks into the NHL season and Crosby has only played seven games, but Crosby is out-producing the “average” Wayne Gretzky.
History tells us that Crosby’s pace isn’t sustainable. Only 7 different players dating back to 1917 (when goalie pads no doubt weren’t what they are in the modern era) have averaged 2.00 points per game or more in a season. And naysayers might question Crosby’s health issues as a serious concern to production sustainability. But it is, after all, just an average. And if Crosby only plays in 60 games and produces 120 points, he will still win the Heart Trophy. So how unreasonable is it?
To put it simply, it is not unreasonable. Crosby is just 26 years old. Perhaps amidst the prime of an already historic career. Despite coming off three straight injury ravaged seasons, those three seasons happened to be three of the four most productive seasons of his career. Crosby has a an elite sidekick in Evgeni Malkin who prevents teams from keying solely on the Penguins Captain and, although Crosby doesn’t play with Malkin at even strength, the two have proven to be lethal when teamed up on the power play. Crosby also is playing alongside Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz for the second straight year, a combination that proved to be highly successful in 2013.
The least sustainable part of Crosby’s game thus far has been the rate at which he has scored goals. His torrid pace can be attributed to a career best shooting percentage which is up 6.4% from his career average. Additionally, the Canadian star has taken more than half a shot per game more than his career average which indicates that he may be looking to score with more frequency. Will Crosby score upwards of 70 goals, as projected? It is unlikely. But with more shots comes more chances for rebound opportunities for teammates, which of course can net Crosby quite a few assists.
Whether you believe Crosby will sustain his 2.00 points per game pace or not, his offensive greatness is indisputable and he looks poised to have a memorable season.
The Texas Stars are looking to continue their fifth season where they ended their fourth season. The AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars finished the 2012-2013 season at the top of the Western Conference. They made it to the second round of the playoffs, losing to the Oklahoma City Barons.
For their fifth season, Texas kicked things off with two home games on Saturday, October 5th and Sunday, October 6th. On Saturday, they hosted the Chicago Wolves. The first goal of the season, and the game, came from Colton Sceviour who is returning for his fifth season in the Dallas organization, most of which he has spent with Texas. The Stars went on to win 4-1. The second goal came from Maxime Fortunas, also back for his fifth season on the team and second as captain. Returning center Travis Morin scored the other two goals and had assists on the first two, taking part in every goal.
For their second game, Texas hosted the Rockford IceHogs. Despite putting up an impressive 44 shots, the Stars fell 4-3. The Stars opened up the scoring in the game with Morin finding the back of the net for his third tally of the season. Second year forward Curtis McKenzie added his first of the season. The IceHogs went on to score the next three goals. Mike Hedden tied up the game for Texas. But, Rockford pulled ahead again towards the end of the second and neither team was able to score in the final frame.
In an unusual scheduling situation, the Texas Stars did not have another game for over a week. The next game was Tuesday, October 15th when they visited the Oklahoma City Barons. Unfortunately, the Stars found themselves not quite getting the start they hoped for as they lost 2-1. Sceviour scored his second of the season early in the third to force overtime, but the Barons won it just 32 seconds into OT.
Texas looks to bounce back tonight as they visit the San Antonio Rampage. Following tonight’s game, they head back home. Saturday they will play the Rampage again, this time on their own home turf. Sunday, they host the Abbotsford Heat and Wednesday, they host the Barons for the second time of the season, but the first time at home. Over those four games, the Stars look to start to stringing together wins to get back to the top of their division.
For the upcoming games, Texas will still be without goaltender Jack Campbell. He was recalled to Dallas when Kari Lehtonen was put on injured reserved after suffering a lower back injury. Additionally, Texas announced earlier this week that they were sending Ryan Button, Taylor Vause, and Hubert Labrie to the Idaho Steelheads, their ECHL affiliate. Vause was the only one who had already appeared in games, going pointless in his first two games. To add to their roster, Dallas assigned Aaron Rome and Chris Mueller to their AHL affiliate. Rome was reactivated off the injured reserve and assigned to Texas for a conditioning assignment. Mueller signed with Dallas in the offseason skated in the opening night game for Dallas before being sent down earlier in the week.
The third annual Girls Hockey Weekend is upon us. If you have daughters and you’re looking for a fun event this weekend in the Boston area, be sure to check out what the Bruins have to offer.
The Boston Bruins, Boston Blades, and MA Hockey have teamed up to support World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend, an opportunity for girls of all ages to try ice hockey for free. This hour-long clinic will provide girls with a fun, structured introduction to the sport of ice hockey. All equipment, including skate rental, will be provided free of charge. All participants will receive autographs and a Bruins giveaway.
To register head on over here.
By Lee Durocher
From a player’s aspect: wheelchair hockey was a sport with great skill and speed and great honour. Once you made your city’s team it was a honour, and played on the same line with some of the greatness athletes. Another great honour was to play against some of the greatness athletes – and some of the great teams. Another great honour was to get a try-out for the provincial team and playagainst the provinces’ best athletes.
There were some great athletes who played this sport which will forever go unrecognized. Somemade the record books for most points – those chosen are remembered. They can say I did that when …Yes even the goalies had records which are still around somewhere – that record is still the record to be tied or even beat. You may ask why? I personally set the goalie record of 12 consecutive shutouts.
I can’t and won’t take all the credit – I did have two of the greatness defensemen who ever played that sport. Being a goalie was the hardest job in that sport – you did need defensemen and I had the top two. I didn’t have to worry about being rushed and run – I just stopped shots that came my way. I had an easy job considering those shots wasn’t fast or that hard. I never wore much for gear except for a catcher’s mask (which I found in rec store room) which was good until one high shot caught the side of that mask it went flying along with my glasses. After a quick timeout I continued playing though – I also remember being trained to improve my position by NHL hall of famers.
Being trained by NHL hall of famers was the biggest highlight of my young life. They didn’t have to do anything like that but I still thank them. Even today I still talk about I was taught how to stop balls from one of the greatness goalies to ever dawn a Montreal Canadians sweater. He never treated me any different – when I got smart with him. Let’s just say I got a hand up side my head – not hard just hard enough so I know not to do it again.
Another big highlight was the day came when the team finally got its name – It happened by sheer surprise. One day during practice the coach received a box with no name on it – all it said was T-Shirts. They were red with a crown on it – they were nice t-shirts. From that day the teams was known as the Edmonton Kings. I loved being part of that team and the players on that team.
I actually played on a great team with great athletes if I had to pick out one memory of my experience in the sport. It would have to be all the about – for the simple fact that it was fun and very competitive. I have a record which will never be matched or broken – that record will stand forever. I have made many friends while playing too. I would not change it for any money in the world.
There are a lot of myths and facts about wheelchair hockey which I’ll cover in my next article:
Hockey: From Different Eyes: Facts and Myths
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