Stevenson plays host to Brother Rice on Saturday, October 5, as all three teams (varsity, varsity 2 and JV) battle on the ice, yet unite off the ice for the second-annual Puck Cancer Game at Twin Rinks Ice Pavilion in Buffalo Grove.

The pink-out games will be supported by a block party-style event to raise funds for the Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook. The city of Buffalo Grove will shut down the street around the rink and there will be food trucks, outdoor inflatable games, music, a fire pit and a raffle.

            “Participating in events like this is one of the primary ways we build culture at Stevenson Hockey,” said Patriots head coach Dan Wood. “It’s important for the student-athletes to become better hockey players, but it’s even more important for them to grow into responsible and productive young adults. Teaching the players the importance of giving back and supporting their community is a great opportunity to build character. 

            “I want (the players) to feel pride and enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves. Working together as a team to do that is something that continues to grow the team both on the ice and in the locker room. Teaching them that there are ways to support organizations without having to write a check is also important.”

            The 2024 event will feature s’mores-making kits that people can purchase, along with sales of pink gear – with all proceeds benefiting the charity.

And yes, the cause is very personal to the Stevenson community, same for Brother Rice.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had players in the program with parents’ fighting (against) cancer,” Wood said. “We’ve all been touched by cancer in some capacity. We have current cancer battles in our program and on my team.”

Cancer Wellness Center has been used by families in the Stevenson program.

Each year, the Cancer Wellness Center offers free counseling services, support groups and health/nutrition programs for more than 1,800 community members of all ages and backgrounds. “People with cancer, family members, friends and caregivers all engage with the organization to connect and cope,” Wood said.

All Cancer Wellness Center services are free.

“It’s an organization that has touched the Stevenson Hockey community and we want to give back,” Wood said.

Last year’s event raised about $1,200.

Wood said more will be raised in 2024.

“We don’t plan these events with a specific goal in mind (for funds raised), but rather, to build a consistent relationship with the philanthropies we partner with,” he said.

Wood said Brother Rice was immediately interested in the fundraising games.

“Hockey is such an amazing sport because of the closeknit relationships you make along the way. Some of my closest friends were all from hockey growing up and I’m still coaching with a few of them today,” Wood said. “Bringing hockey and important causes together teaches kids about giving back and they have a positive memory associated with it. 

“The kids know all the details of the events and are a large part of the event promotion. Our players are empowered to run social media, which helps with promotional activities. They brainstorm game themes we can incorporate with the special events that help draw crowds to the game.”

Lincolnshire-based Stevenson High School issues an annual community service award to the team that has the most community impact. The hockey team has earned the award each of the last three years. Wood said winning the school’s community service award “is the single proudest accomplishment of the program.”

“Wins on the (ice) matter, but I really feel part of my job as a coach is to prepare them for life beyond high school. All the work we do with these programs contributes to that. The Stevenson hockey board is integral in organizing and supporting these activities and believe that all the philanthropic work contributes positively to the culture we’ve built at Stevenson.”

Stevenson Hockey hosts a fundraising event or participates in a volunteer activity at least once a month during the season. Last year, the Patriots raised more than $10,000 for multiple charities. Stevenson’s hockey teams helped pack food at Feed My Starving Children, helped organize books at Bernie’s Book Bank, and sold wreaths in honor of Veteran’s Day for Wreaths Across America and then placed the wreaths to honor fallen servicemen and women. The Patriots also have collected animal supplies for the Heartland Animal Shelter.

In addition, Stevenson Hockey raised more than $5,000 for Brave Gowns in honor of congenital heart disease awareness week, an organization that used those funds to make child hospital gowns to donate to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Last year, Wood’s son had open heart surgery due to a congenital heart defect at Lurie’s. “These hospital gowns bring light to kids during really troubling times, and they are incredibly soft,” Wood said. “They make superhero gowns, character gowns and most notably hockey player gowns. All the gowns donated to Lurie’s were hockey player uniforms.”