On Saturday at 6 p.m. the Cariboo Cougars will line up on Kin 1 ice to play the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds in a battle of two of the upper-echelon teams in the B.C. Elite Hockey League 18U triple-A division.
But this isn’t just a hockey game, it’s the 10th annual Pink In the Rink Night, a tribute to people who have had cancer and their families and friends.
Started in 2014, when Shawn and Art Julian of Taba Enterprises in Fort St. James approached Cougars management to create the event in memory of Rita McKinnon, Art’s wife and Shawn’s mother, who died of cancer. Taba picked up the cost of the pink jerseys the Cougars have worn during the special game.
“They’ve always been a big supporter of hockey in the north and they wanted something that was a legacy,” said Cougars general manager Trevor Sprague.
“It’s something different for the players to have a feature game as well, to bring awareness to cancer and what it means to us. Cancer affects almost everybody at some point, either they’ve had it or have had to deal with it with their families and at the end of the day these players need to just think about that they have every day and appreciate that.”
Proceeds from the 50-50 draw will go to the Kordyban Lodge, which provides food and lodging for people and their families while they receive treatment at the adjacent B.C. Cancer Centre for the North. Taba put $500 in the 50-50 pot, as did the family of Cariboo Cougar alumni Brett Fudger.
With 12 wins three losses and a tie in 16 games Cougars are having an exceptional season, ranked second in the nine-team league. They’re one point ahead of the T-birds (12-2) who have played two fewer games.
The same teams meet Sunday in a rematch at Kin 1 starting at 10:30 a.m.
The Northern Capitals U18 triple-A female team had its Pink In the Rink event in early November. They are in Brampton, Ont., for the 40-team Two Nations College Prep Series international tournament.
