Marquette thinking pink for charity

The Marquette Rangers took the ice on Thursday night dressed in pink jerseys and socks to help raise awareness and money for the Cancer Center at Marquette General Health Systems. 

The team got an early start to the fundraiser at the Marquette Big Boy restaurant on Monday, taking the role of “celebrity servers” for three hours.

“This was a blast,” said Rangers forward Josh Bussell. “It was great to get out in the community and promote this game.  I don’t know if I’d want to wait tables for a living, but for one night we all had a really good time.”

Bussell was one of 12 players who gave their time for the event.

For three hours, the players seated customers and waited tables with the Big Boy staff with all tips the players earned going directly to the Cancer Center.  In all, the team raised around $350 to kick off a campaign that reached $20,000 in 2007.

The Rangers rallied from an early two-goal deficit, roaring back for a 6-3 North Division win against the Motor City Machine.
 
The real winner, however, was the Cancer Center at Marquette General Hospital. 
 
The Rangers, decked out in pink jerseys and socks to promote Breast Cancer awareness, hosted a post-game auction where all 25 players literally gave the shirt right off their backs.
 
Each jersey started with a minimum bid of $100, with most garnering $300 or more apiece.  One jersey auctioned at $750 to support the efforts of the Cancer Center at MGH. 

All money raised through the auction and T-shirt sales will stay in the Upper Peninsula to help support cancer patients and continue the awareness program at the hospital.

A TRUE MAVERICK: Fairbanks head coach Josh Hauge couldn’t be happier about the recent commitment of third-year Ice Dogs forward Andrew McCabe to the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

“Andrew is another coach on the ice for us,” said Hauge.  “He’s an unbelievable kid and an unbelievable player.”

An Eau Claire, Wis., native, McCabe is averaging a point a game this season with eight on four goals. He’s also a plus-2.

But that’s just the beginning, according to Hauge.

“He does so much for us that never gets noticed,” said the coach. “He finishes hits, blocks shots and will be the key to any success we have this season.

“He’ll be very successful in college hockey.”