DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings are proud to once again team up with the American Cancer Society for Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Friday as the organizations join forces to bring awareness to pediatric cancer, celebrate courageous cancer fighters and raise money for research, in partnership with Comerica Bank.
Red Wings set to host Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Friday
Week-long online auction, in-arena tributes and other fundraisers highlight annual commemoration to raise awareness for hockey's most important fight
To join the fight against this dreaded disease, the Red Wings are hosting several activities and fundraisers before, during and after Friday's Hockey Fights Cancer game against the Arizona Coyotes at Little Caesars Arena. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.
The activities will begin during pregame warmups when Red Wings players will proudly sport lavender jerseys and lavender-taped sticks on the ice, which will immediately be autographed and put up for online auction until Friday, Dec. 2 at
DetroitRedWings.com/Auction](https://auctions.nhl.com/iSynApp/allAuction.action?sid=1100803&rc=20&pgmode1=teamsearch&pgcust1=redWings&pgcust2=&pgcust3=panname_teamName_s&qt[0].type=fieldmatch&qt[0].name=panname_teamName_s&qt[0
.
A limited number of Hockey Fights Cancer player-autographed mystery pucks will also be available for purchase on the concourse in front of the Team Store. Two lucky purchasers will have an opportunity to meet Dylan Larkin after the game if they pull one of his gold-signed pucks. Proceeds from the sale and auction, as well as the game's 50/50 Raffle, benefit the American Cancer Society and the Detroit Red Wings Foundation.
"We're once again asking Red Wings fans to rally together for children affected by cancer in our community and beyond," Ilitch Sports + Entertainment director of community impact Kevin Brown said. "Through generous support from Comerica Bank, as well as proceeds from our week-long auction and several in-arena initiatives, we're raising awareness and pushing one step closer to finding a cure to defeat this awful disease."
Love Your Melon is also joining effort for Hockey Fights Cancer Night,
sponsoring a special ticket package which includes a Love Your Melon beanie for purchasers.
A portion of proceeds from the Love Your Melon package, which is also available on November 30 against the Buffalo Sabres, are donated to nonprofit organizations around the world that lead the fight against pediatric cancer.
Fans attending the game or watching from home are encouraged to visit
DetroitRedWings.com/HockeyFightsCancer
where they can download and fill out an "I Fight For" card to recognize someone in their life affected by cancer.
"I Fight For" cards can be submitted through
DetroitRedWings.com
or @DetroitRedWings on social media to possibly be used in a special segment during the game.
In-arena celebrations will also include the Little Caesars Arena dasher boards turning lavender, as well as a special National Anthem singer, Youth Hockey Player of the Game presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Puck Drop Captain, special photo opportunities and videoboard tributes to cancer survivors, researchers and fundraisers.
Friday's Anthem singer is adult cancer survivor and member of the Canton Cabaret, Keri Mueller, and the Youth Hockey Player of the Game is Hank Burzynski, a 7-year-old cancer fighter and member of the Grand Rapids WMSHA Patriots hockey club.
The Puck Drop Captain is Sean DeWitt, an 18-year-old University of Detroit Jesuit high school student, who will ring a bell on Friday to signify nearing the end of his cancer treatment.
The Red Wings and Comerica Bank have also invited 100 cancer survivors, pediatric cancer researchers and American Cancer Society supporters to attend Hockey Fights Cancer Night and enjoy a pregame VIP reception in Heritage Hall.
In addition to Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Friday, the significant others of Red Wings players and coaches visited children battling cancer at Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit earlier this week. The visit included hands-on arts and crafts, and each child received an official Love Your Melon beanie adorned with the Red Wings logo.
In September,
Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen visited Walled Lake Northern High School in Commerce Township, Mich.
to help kick off Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, as part of the American Cancer Society Gold Together Champions Michigan campaign, presented by the Detroit Red Wings Foundation. Through media outreach and fundraising incentives, the Red Wings were honored to encourage local high school sport teams to raise funds for the American Cancer Society's efforts to support pediatric cancer research.
"The Red Wings' partnership with the American Cancer Society allows us to shine a brighter light on cancer survivors, honor their fight and provide crucial support to those most in need in our community," American Cancer Society senior executive director of Michigan Chad Creekmore said. "We are so grateful to the individuals and teams stepping up to invest in our kids and to the Detroit Red Wings Foundation for their long-standing partnership and commitment to ending childhood cancers.
"While progress continues to be made, there are still several types of kids' cancers with low survival rates and no known cure. As a parent, I simply cannot stomach that and at the American Cancer Society, that's not something we are willing to accept."
