By Jeffrey Schweitzer
It was a regular Friday night in October, and for a family with kids who play ice hockey, it would be expected to be on the ice for either a practice or a game. But it is really a treat when your ice time is on the same sheet that professionals played on 30 seconds before it was your time.
This past Friday, October 24th, was the 5 Annual "Pink In The Rink" hosted by the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center Ice Arena, Providence. The Bruins took on the Norfolk Admirals and beat them in a 4-0 shutout. The Bruins donned their special pink accented jerseys in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Fans were greeted with pink rally towels. Attendees were encouraged to wear pink to the game and the stands became a sea of pink, black and gold. During the game the Bruins honored breast cancer survivors on the ice before the game in a ceremony. They also honored those who's lives were taken by the terrible disease, including Wrentham's Cheryl Maduskie, who lost her battle recently.
Not only did the professionals skate to the puck on Friday, but so did the youngsters on the King Philip Walpole Girls U10 team. During the first intermission, the KPW girls battled the Milton U10 girls in a six minute scrimmage that they will remember for a long time to come. With a bus ride to and from the game provided by Holmes Bus Company, the girls had a chance to bond as a team on this special night. Before the game, the girls all got fresh pink tape wrapped sticks and pre-game bonding continued in one of the many locker rooms at the Dunk. "Ladies, enjoy every moment of this night" said head coach Kevin Birch while the girls got ready to skate. "This night is going to be one you will remember for a long time to come!" added Assistant Coach Steve Hearon.
Coach Hearon, a police officer in Wrentham, was especially responsible for helping the girls to remember this night. He worked with the Wrentham Police Association to provide the team with special pink jerseys, complete with name and number, just for this special night.
The KPW U10 girls brought their own "Pink in the Rink" for this special Friday Night and will use these new jerseys as alternate jerseys for the remainder of their season as they skate in the South Shore Conference.
In related news King Philip Walpole Hockey is holding a Try Hockey for Free Day. Boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 9 are invited to Norfolk Arena on Saturday, Nov. 8, for a Try Hockey for Free clinic to experience ice hockey for the first time. To learn more visit the King Philip Walpole Youth Hockey web site, www.kpwhockey.org.
