It’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night in Smashville! There will be lots of opportunities for fans at the game to show their support, including donation stations, signed mystery pucks, and special Hockey Fights Cancer items at the silent auction tables. Not coming to the game? Don’t worry…there’s stuff for you too. The Preds wore special jerseys during warmups before the November Hockey Fights Cancer game, and they will be available in an online auction HERE. There’s a bunch of great stuff, including player teddy bears and autographed hats. You can also make a donation directly to the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund, where your dollars will go directly to research and support for children with cancer in our area.
Tonight is #HFC Night in Smashville. Bid on some awesome items all for a great cause!! http://t.co/3lcnJE5goh
— PredsFoundation (@PredsFoundation) March 7, 2015
The @PredsNHL @PredsFoundation #HFC game night auction is open let’s build up the 365Fund http://t.co/iL0K8DhmJu Bid early and often!
— PREDSident (@PREDSident) March 7, 2015
While this is a league-wide initiative, the Predators are DEEPLY involved with this charity (this is the 2nd such event of the season). If you have a moment, check it out and see what you can do to participate.
Nashville, Tenn. (March 4, 2015) – On Saturday, March 7, the Nashville Predators hit the ice at Bridgestone Arena in a special 6 p.m. CT start to take on the Winnipeg Jets in support of the National Hockey League’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. Saturday’s game marks the second of the two Hockey Fights Cancer games the Predators hosted this season (first was on Nov. 15 vs. Winnipeg), with money raised during Nashville’s Hockey Fights Cancer games benefitting the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Dollar General. The 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Dollar General works to fund childhood cancer research at Vanderbilt University’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
There will be several opportunities throughout the game for fans to contribute funds for pediatric cancer research, including:
- Lavender Hockey Fights Cancer Nashville Predators jerseys, which were worn during warm-ups of the Preds’ November Hockey Fights Cancer game, will be auctioned off online (preds.myab.co), by texting “PREDS” to 521-82 and at the Predators Foundation are (section 106/107).
- Special Hockey Fights Cancer items will be up for auction online and at the Predators Foundation area.
- Purchase autographed mystery pucks at the Predators Foundation Area (section 106/107) and at the Community Corner (section 120)
- Donate $1 from any purchase at all DNC-Sportservice concession stands
- Drop change into donation buckets and coin machines located around the arena
- Visiting Nashvillepredators.com/365fund
Serving as Child Ambassador and Mayor of Smashville for the game will be 11-year-old Dylan Cucinella from Sparta, Tenn. Cucinella was diagnosed in June 2014 with a form of brain cancer called anaplastic ependymoma. After surgeons at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt successfully removed the tumor, Cucinella underwent 33 radiation treatments over the course of seven weeks.
During his fight against cancer, Cucinella used Beads of Courage, one of the Predators Foundation 2014-15 Feature Charities, to provide a tangible testimony to his journey and his success. Today, Cucinella in an honor roll student, plays on his middle school soccer team and is on his local 4H rifle team. Cucinella will be given the honor of dropping the puck in a pregame ceremonial faceoff, welcoming the team back onto the ice after the first intermission with an air-raid siren, riding the Zamboni and participating in a postgame meet and greet with the players.
Other initiatives from the game include:
- Lavender Hockey Fights Cancer ties donned by Nashville Predators coaches and broadcasters.
- A Flashes of Hope photo shoot from 3-5 p.m. in Bridgestone Arena meeting rooms for patients and their families from Children’s Hospital (flashesofhope.org).
- Beanies for Baldies will be handing out beanies, created by Preds staff members, to families visiting the Flashes of Hope area.
- A suite sponsored by Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber will be used by patients and families from Children’s Hospital.
- Several young patients from Children’s Hospital will sit in the penalty box to watch pregame warm-ups and ride the Zamboni during pregame and intermissions. Children’s Hospital mascot Champ will also ride a Zamboni.
- A patient will stand with the anthem singer during Saturday’s game.
- A patient will participate in a pregame visit with Zebras Care, a charitable organization started by the NHL Officials Association that provides underprivileged and sick children the opportunity to meet NHL referees and linesmen and to attend an NHL game.
- Patients will high-five players as they come on the ice through the Lexus Lounge tunnel.
About the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund Presented by Dollar General
The Nashville Predators and the Nashville Predators Foundation raise money annually for the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Dollar General (formerly the Nashville Predators Pediatric Cancer Research Fund), established in 2010, through Hockey Fights Cancer games, silent and blind auctions, mystery pucks, fan donations and more. In June 2013, more than $130,000 was given to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Through the fund, the Nashville Predators have made donations totaling more than $800,000 for the hospital and its programs over the past five years. For more information about the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Dollar General, visit Nashvillepredators.com/365fund.
About Hockey Fights Cancer™
Hockey Fights Cancer™ is a charitable initiative founded in December 1998 by the National Hockey League® and National Hockey League Players’ Association. It is supported by players, NHL member clubs, NHL alumni, the NHL Officials’ Association, professional hockey athletic trainers and equipment managers, corporate marketing partners, broadcast partners and fans throughout North America. The goal of Hockey Fights Cancer is to raise money and awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research. To date, through the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, the NHL’s U.S. and Canadian charitable foundations and NHL supporters and fans have donated more than $14 million to support national and local cancer research institutions, children’s hospitals, player charities and local cancer organizations. Hockey Fights Cancer is also a component of The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice®, the National Hockey League’s and National Hockey League Players’ Association’s social responsibility program that builds on hockey’s long-standing tradition of addressing important social issues in North America and around the world. For more information about Hockey Fights Cancer, please go to Hockeyfightscancer.com.