As the skates slide across the ice, the crowd roars. The air is cold. People are bundled up with coats and sipping hot cocoa. Everyone in attendance is there to see the men’s hockey match between Western New England and Wentworth. This is a game like no other, as not only will it be a great match, but the WNE men’s hockey team is fighting cancer. They hit the ice with such passion that they were not only fighting for a game win but a win in life. Friends, family, classmates, and students all gathered to support those fighting against cancer alongside their Golden Bears. Pink is seen throughout the rink, as the players’ jerseys represent hope. Games like these make watching sports more entertaining, as there is meaning. Games like these leave a symbol of togetherness in our hearts. We show up to support.
Earlier in the day, the men’s hockey team shared posts on their Instagram of the team holding up signs of who they were playing for in this game. Family members, friends, teammates; everyone had someone to support. It was an important game to watch; you could feel it. You could see the passion that the team had as you watched them glide around on the ice. Your eyes were glued to the puck as it was shooting up and down the rink. You did not care that your hands were cold and that the stands that you sat on were as hard as concrete. All that mattered was that you were there. You were there supporting a cause that has made an impact on the entire world.
You were there for somebody. A friend. A classmate. A family member. The score at the end of the game did not matter. They fought their hardest in that game. Sticks were broken. Bodies of both teams were slammed into the wall. A loss may have occurred that night, but there was a win in our hearts. With this support, we take it and hold onto it forever. No matter where we are, there are humans in life who will support this cause just like we do. It can make it a double win when you support a sport you love and a cause you love.
On the outside of the rink, fans wore pink to show their love for the sport and for those fighting. A pink Golden Bears jersey was being raffled off at the front door, and all the proceedings would go to an organization that was finding a cure. You received a chance to win a cool jersey while supporting a noble cause. That is a win-win situation. It’s not every day that you have the chance to receive two wins. It would have been three, but the Wentworth team fought harder. In the end, we were all rooting for the same team. The team of life.
