Number of Participants: 92
Hours Donated: 2
Value of Time Served: $1,555
Event Amount Raised: $31,000
Event Type: Health & Medicine
Sport: Boys Ice Hockey
Date: December 31, 2023
Location:
Marshfield High School
Forest Street, Marshfield
MA
About:
Truly blessed to find inspiration and hope in the battle against cancer.
It was a special day for the Rams family as they paid tribute to two cancer survivors during the ceremonial puck drop: Coach Connolly and Coach Genovese’s mothers, Gail Connolly and Kathy Genovese.
It was an amazing day of hockey, and the combined hockey communities of Marshfield and Hingham have already raised nearly $30,000 for #HockeyFightsCancer.
MARSHFIELD – New Year’s Eve has taken on a new sheen among South Shore hockey fans, as it now marks not just a heated rivalry in an annual non-league showdown, but also a burgeoning community event that raises money for cancer research.
The boys hockey teams from Marshfield High and Hingham High are not just neighborhood rivals, they are both usually among the state’s best Division 1 teams, defined by the strong independent schedules they pursue.
A couple years ago the annual showdown took on an added glow, when it was transformed into a Hockey Fights Cancer event, where all proceeds are donated to cancer research, and fans and supporters of each team are encouraged to donate even more, or bring added impetus to the cause. Last year was the first time the game carried that extra element, and the teams raised over $33,000.The event a few weeks ago is nearing that level, with $31,000-plus in the coffers so far, and more coming in every day.
The two schools have made it a Hockey Fights Cancer Initiative that lasts until January 31, with some other events and ways for sponsors or fans to contribute, so that the total funds raised will continue to grow.
“We have played Hingham on New Year’s Eve for a lot of years now, and we talked last year about what we might do to give it more significance,” explained Marshfield High boys hockey coach Dan Connolly. “The Hockey Fights Cancer cause seemed like a natural to all of us, and when we went a little further, both schools and both communities really supported the idea. Our players especially really got behind it, and embraced the idea. I think every one of them knows someone, or has had someone in their family, affected by cancer, so they were very much behind the idea right away.”
“The community support, both in Marshfield and Hingham, has been outstanding from the beginning,” added Connolly. “We have had good crowds for both years, and with these two hockey programs, it is almost always a good game, too. These two programs have achieved some of the best seasons in the state in recent years, and both towns are very supportive of the hockey programs, and the sport at every level, so it was easy to bring their communities into this event. We raised over $33,000 the first year, and the last report I saw from this year had us over $31,000, so $54,000 in just two years of having the event is not too bad.” …