Girls Varsity Ice Hockey raised nearly $10,000 at their annual “Pink in the Rink” game against Hotchkiss on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Pink in the Rink is the Girl’s Varsity Hockey annual game for Breast Cancer awareness. The game raised money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This was the most money the team has ever made.
Before the game, parents and volunteers set up raffles for Air Pods, food, t-shirts, blankets, pet supplies, coffee, and gift cards. This year, the team raised more than double what they had in the past.
Alex Tancrell-Fontaine, commonly know by many on campus as Ms. TF, the Girls Varsity Hockey Assistant Coach, is grateful for the support of the Williston Community.
“Dedicating a game to a cause much bigger than the sport allows people to put more purpose and emphasis on what they are doing in honor of all those impacted by breast cancer and cancer,” she said. “Sports can be really unifying in that way.”
Pink in the Rink is bigger than a game, Ms. TF believes.
“I think what was incredible this year was the amount of game dedications within our team and on Hotchkiss. Breast cancer and cancer in general have really impacted everyone,” she said. “This year, it felt extra important given that the fundraising was going to Dana Farber, where Catie Putt’s mom is currently being treated.”
Catie is a junior on the team.
Ms. TF considers herself lucky to be apart of this game.
“This game has taught me what an amazing community Williston is, but also the hockey community in general,” she said.
Yasmine McKenzie, a junior defensemen on the team from Holden, Mass.,, believes the cause strengthens her team on the ice.
“Playing for something bigger than us gives us the motivation to keep going when things get tough,” she said. “When we play for those affected by cancer we think of all the hardships that they had to go through.”
Yasmine is strong, she said, because those affected by cancer have to be.
“Playing in this game has taught me to the importance of resiliency,” she said. “The cancer patients and their families are so resilient, and we can all work a little harder to embody these characteristics and be more like them.”
Sebas Fonseca, a junior from Mexico City, Mexico and a recently new hockey fan, found the Pink in the Rink game enjoyable because of the cause.
“The game was very fun to watch, and the ceremonies before the game really put it into perspective for me,” he said. “My mom’s best friend had breast cancer and had to get treatment. It scared me to think it could happen to any woman any time, even my mom.”
