From The Penn

By Seth Woolcock

Giving back.

That will be the theme Friday as the IUP Division III Crimson Hawks hockey team hosts the Salisbury Gulls for their first ever Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

The game, taking place at the White Township Recreation S&T Arena at 8:10 p.m., will have all of its proceeds donated to the Mario Lemieux Foundation.

The Mario Lemieux Foundation was created in 1993 by the Pittsburgh Penguins legend. Following a successful battle with Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer that attacks the immune system, Lemieux devotes much of his time to the foundation to help find a cure for cancer.

“This is the first time doing this,” said defenseman Brett Goldstein (junior, human resource management). “But we’d like to turn it into a tradition.”

The game will feature a raffle for an authentic IUP hockey jersey and a “Chuck a Puck” contest where the contestant closest to the center will take half of the earnings, with the other half going to the Lemieux Foundation.

The team, which is in the midst of one of its best seasons in years, currently sits at No. 11 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Atlantic Region Rankings, with the Gulls closely behind at No. 16.

“This is the best team I’ve been a part of in my four years,” said defenseman and team captain Jake Raymore (senior, safety science). “It’s finally starting to feel like a real college sport.”

The team, in its first year under head coach Zachary Barto, holds a record of 8-4-1 overall and a 4-1-1 record in league play.

One key reason for the team’s newfound success is its added depth. With a talented group of freshmen players, the team is now able to send more players onto the ice if someone gets injured or is off his game.

Forward Leo Blore (senior, communications media), who currently leads the team with 24 points and averaging two PPG, elaborated on the team’s changing rapport.

“With less fights this season we’re definitely changing our image,” Blore said. “We are turning into a more talented team rather than a scrappy one.”

After suffering a tough loss to Robert Morris on Saturday, the team responded with one of its best practices of the year.

“We’re trying to make some noise, get recognition and change the perception,” Raymore said.

The game tonight begins what could be a crucial weekend for the Crimson Hawks’ position in the region as they will travel to play their rival Pitt-Johnstown tomorrow.

“Expect high-pace energy and hitting,” Goldstein said. “We’re going to put on a good show for the people who come.”

The rink is located at 497 East Pike Road.

Tickets are $5 for general admission and $2 with an I-Card.

 (Originally published at https://www.thepenn.org/sports/division-iii-hockey-ready-for-hockey-fights-cancer-night/article_399dedb6-f9d2-11e8-8ac6-1b384812f577.html)