On Nov. 4, the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Club Hockey team will host their seventh annual Pink the Rink game. The most important statistic from this game, however, won’t be shots on goal, faceoffs won, or power plays that result in a score. Actually, the biggest part of this game doesn’t even happen on the ice. The most crucial part of this contest is the reason it’s played.
Since the Pink the Rink event started back in 2016, the team has won the American Collegiate Hockey Association (AHCA) National Community Service Award twice, first in 2018, and most recently in June of this year. Head coach Dr. Timothy Winegard and his team raise money through partnering with different businesses and with their now famous pink Maverick hockey t-shirts.
“In the past 6 years, we’ve raised over $100,000, we’ve won the National Community Service Award from our league twice, and we’ve won an award from [the] US congress for our charity work with the hockey team, so I’m very proud of the players for their efforts,” said Winegard.
Despite the national nods, the team is staying focused on why they do this year in and year out.
“The awards are awesome, but I think the cool thing is that it really brings attention to what we’re doing and when we get the repost [on social media] there have definitely been people that come out to our games because of it, send us money because of it, and reach out because of it. This year, because we’re selling [t-shirts] online, and we’ve opened our auction online as well, it allows for those outside people to come and help the cause, which I think is super important,” said Forward Bryson Sutterby.
While most funds raised for cancer awareness go directly to research, the Mavs donate the money in a different way.
“A lot of these big charities are just giving to research, what we try to do is directly give back to the people in our community, so I think that’s pretty impactful to see,” said Forward Ethan Gotchey.
Even with a record setting $22,000 raised last season, the team wants to raise even more this year.
“This year our goal is $25,000, and our shirts have been selling like crazy. We anticipate auction items going for about $8,000, and we haven’t even posted our jerseys yet. Right now we’re in the ballpark of $20,000,” said Sutterby.
With a game this big, it can be incredibly difficult for players to stay zoned in on the game, but the Mavericks understand what really matters about this night.
“Whatever actually happens on the ice is what it is but what we can actually do for the community is the actual impact it can have,” said Gotchey.
To support the efforts of the team, Mama Ree’s Pizza and Brewhouse will be donating 10% of all sales made on November 1st to Pink the Rink and T-Shirts are on sale for $10 around campus and at every home game. Admittance to the game is $10.
