Hockey's annual Pink the Rink game benefits cancer research; Blue Devils take on Morrisville

President Dennis L. Hefner was on hand when Coach Jeff Meredith presented SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher with her own Pink the Rink hockey jersey.

The Fredonia State men’s hockey team will wrap up the SUNYAC regular season in high style, while promoting a very good cause, by staging its fan-favorite “Pink the Rink” game. The annual event, which serves as a fundraiser in the fight against breast cancer and has garnered national media attention in the past, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m., against Morrisville at Steele Hall Ice Arena.

The Blue Devils will once again don their pink jerseys and socks for the event, launched as a student class project by former assistant hockey coach Greg Heffernan in 2007 to raise money for the American Cancer Society. All proceeds from the sale of these jerseys will once again be given to the American Cancer Society.

In past years, jerseys from all team members were auctioned off to the highest bidders and awarded on the ice immediately after the game. Each winning bidder received the pink jersey that bore the team logo on the front and the player’s name on the back.

There’s a new twist this year for acquiring one of these unique jerseys. Hockey fans are invited to make arrangements before the game to purchase a pink jersey for $250. These pre-game sales will enable the team to have the last name of a loved one of the person buying the jersey -- instead of the player’s name -- printed on the back of the jersey to serve as a tribute to be seen by all fans at the game.

“We feel it will be an inspirational evening and are excited about joining in the fight against breast cancer,” said head coach Jeffrey Meredith.

To make arrangements to purchase a jersey, contact Coach Meredith at 716-673-3334 or Meredith@fredonia.edu.