Aaron Acker/The Daily Sentinel
Wearing a pink jersey, Colorado Mesa University’s Jacob Roggie works the puck in the Mavericks’ 2-1 victory over Grand Canyon University during the ninth annual Pink the Rink night on Feb. 15. The annual fundraiser for Western Slope cancer programs raised $38,000 making it the most successful run of the charity game to date.
Colorado Mesa University’s ninth annual “Pink The Rink” hockey game raised $38,000 for Western Slope cancer programs Feb. 15, making it the most successful run of the charity game to date, according to a May 8 press release from the school.
CMU said every dollar raised through the charity game “directly supports patients and families on the West Slope.” A check was presented to Community Hospital President Chris Thomas and hospital staff after the game, which saw CMU grab a 2-1 win over Grand Canyon University.
“I am so proud of my players for their hard work, maturity, and selflessness to this ever-growing annual event,” CMU hockey coach Timothy Wineguard said. “They exemplify what it means to be a student-athlete at CMU. The game of hockey has given all of us so much throughout our lives, but it is even more rewarding for us to give back to something bigger than hockey within the community that supports us and packs the rink every night through the game we love.”
According to the school, this year’s contribution brought Pink the Rink’s fundraising total up to $240,000 since its inception in 2016. The program has earned national recognition in the years since, winning the club team a Community Service Award from the American Collegiate Hockey Association three times, and received a Congressional Community Service Award in 2018.
