Wildcats Hockey


Wildcats Think Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness The program’s ‘Shooting for a Cure 2011’ initiative a resounding success


W


hen the nearly 200 Wildcats Hockey Club players hit the ice to open their seasons last month, they did so clad in the pinkest of pink jerseys.


A pretty bold statement from a group of kids playing such a tough sport, but it was done with good reason.


With October recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all 13 teams in the program agreed to participate in the month-long “Wildcats Hockey Loves Moms: Shooting for a Cure 2011” awareness event. The Wildcats’ efforts also coincided with the NHL’s “Hockey Fights Cancer” awareness campaign.


The initiative is the brainchild of Alana


ing dispensation from strict jersey rules so the players could wear the pink jerseys for home games at KHS Ice Arena in Anaheim - the Wildcats’ home ice - and those SCAHA contests played on the road from San Diego to Bakersfield.


Fundraising related to Wildcats Hockey Loves Moms: Shooting for a Cure 2011 came from the sale, auction and raffle of pink- ribbon-related merchandise and autographed and collectible hockey paraphernalia. Tickets and items were sold at KHS Ice Arena on game days during October.


Dauphinee, a 40-year-old Costa Mesa resi- dent who’s currently being treated for breast cancer. The Dauphinees have three sons playing for the Wildcats.


The Wildcats’ Squirt A team was one of 13 in the organization to sport special pink breast cancer awareness jerseys the entire month of October.


The magnitude of her medical battle hit her old-


est son, Liam, while he was on the ice participating in a hockey camp this past summer. “I noticed a boy wearing pink skate laces and asked him why,” said Liam, who plays on the Wild- cats’ 99 Pee Wee A team. “He told me his mother had breast cancer and I told him that mine did, too. He looked at me and asked, ‘Did your mom die, too?’”


That interaction sparked Alana’s motivation to implement the Wildcats’ breast cancer awareness event, but there was more to emphasize. “Our kids are privileged to have so much time,


energy and resources placed on hockey,” Alana said. “I think it’s important for them to understand that there are things in life that are more important than playing a game.


“The Wildcats Hockey Loves Moms campaign was designed to raise both breast cancer awareness and money to be donated to a local breast cancer charity, but we also want to recognize the unique and valuable role moms play in the great sport of youth hockey by actively supporting our young play- ers who may have a mother, close friend or relative diagnosed with breast cancer.”


The Wildcats’ efforts are believed to be the first time a SCAHA club has participated in an aware- ness event of this magnitude. In fact, the Wildcats reached a special agreement with SCAHA provid-


WildcatsHockey.com


Wildcats players wore the pink-ribbon jerseys during all five weekends of competi- tion over the course of the month.


Wildcats teams were given the option of wearing the pink jerseys or selecting other activities to raise awareness, but all 13 teams - ranging from the cross-ice Mini-Mites to the Bantam A squad - opted to take the most visible route.


Individual players also took to adorning their skates with pink laces and wrapping their stick blades in pink tape.


“It was very impressive to see the kids par- ticipate with such enthusiasm and maturity,” said Wildcats club president Ben Frank. “Having played hockey from a very young age myself, I know the level of appreciation our players have for their moms, but I’ve been moved by the personal stories of our players who’ve been touched by this disease’s impact on a loved one.”


LABOR DAY


INVITATIONAL SEPTEMBER 2-5 Pee Wee AA/ Squirt B


FALL CLASSIC NOVEMBER 23-27


Bantam A/Bantam B/ Pee Wee A/


Squirt A/Squirt B/ Mite B


WINTER HOLIDAY SHOOTOUT


DECEMBER 26-31 Midget A/Bantam A/ Bantam B/ Pee Wee A/


Pee Wee B/Squirt B * For 02 Super Series Event, register at SuperSeriesAAA.com


PRESIDENTS’ DAY OPEN


FEBRUARY 17-20 Mite B/Squirt B/Squirt A/


Pee Wee A/Pee Wee AA Bantam A/Bantam B


MEMORIAL DAY


Bantam A/Bantam B/ Pee Wee A/


SHOWDOWN MAY 24 - 28


Pee Wee B/Squirt B/ Mite B


Register at WildcatsHockey.com/Register FOR MORE DETAILS, E-MAIL TOURNAMENTS@WILDCATSHOCKEY.COM


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