The evening kicks off with Blackhawks Television Color Analyst Eddie Olczyk - who will serve as this year's league-wide Hockey Fights Cancer ambassador - and former forward Adam Burish hosting the annual Purple Carpet in the United Center Atrium at 3:45 p.m. The Purple Carpet will honor fans who are currently battling cancer or are in remission as well as those who have lost a loved one to the disease. This special event is generously supported by CIBC, which will also be donating $20,000 to the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation for cancer-related causes.
Atrium doors will open at 2:30 p.m. for the Purple Carpet event, with gates to the United Center to follow at 4:30 p.m. The first 10,000 fans to enter the arena will receive an Eddie Olczyk bobblehead, also presented by CIBC. Olcyzk will also remain in the Atrium after the Purple Carpet until 5:30 p.m. for a photo opportunity with fans who purchase a signed copy of his new memoir, "Eddie Olczyk: Beating the Odds in Hockey and in Life." A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation.
During warmups, players will wear newly-designed "Hockey Fights Cancer" jerseys, which will each be autographed and auctioned off online to benefit various local cancer-related organizations through the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation. Coaches and broadcasters will wear purple ties, which will also be included in the auction accompanied by an autographed photo. The auction will begin on Sunday, Oct. 27 and run through Monday, Nov. 4 at noon. Interested fans can visit
Blackhawks.com/HockeyFightsCancer
for more information.
Through the team's partnership with Make-A-Wish Illinois and Bear Necessities, five local children battling cancer will accompany the Blackhawks starting lineup on the blue line for the National Anthem. Additionally, Benoit Savard, a 12-year-old from Lévis, Québec, who is battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, will perform the ceremonial puck drop prior to the game as part of his Children's Wish Foundation of Canada experience.
There will be several additional opportunities for fans to show their support for the movement or contribute funds to the cause throughout the game:
Sunday's game against Los Angeles starts at 6 p.m. and can be seen on NBC Sports Chicago, the exclusive local television home for Blackhawks hockey, as well as streamed live online at NBCSportsChicago.com and the "MyTeams by NBC Sports" app. It can also be heard on WGN Radio and Univision's TUDN Deportes Radio Chicago (Spanish).
For more information about the NHL and NHLPA's Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, please go to
HockeyFightsCancer.com
.
