GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Griff's Ice House Belknap was full of the typical cheers on Friday night but the lobby was decorated with more than just a touch of pink. It was all for the 12th annual "Pink in the Rink" fundraiser.
The Sparta High School hockey team, which is a co-op that also includes students from Northview, Comstock Park, NorthPointe Christian and Tri-County, is the host school for the event. This year, Kenowa Hills High School participated, along with co-ops from Kalamazoo and Portage.
All the players choose someone affected by cancer to play for and many of them wear the names of those loved ones on the back of their jerseys.
This year, the event will benefit the West Michigan Special Hockey Association and the family of Comstock Park High School student Konnor VanDyke. The 15-year-old was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.
"It's a great feeling to be able to help someone in need. I can't imagine having cancer be so close to your family, or be a part of who you are. It's nice for the boys to each be able to play for a certain family member or someone they know who has cancer," said volunteer Julie Gleason, whose son Caden scored a hat trick on Friday night.
"He's playing for his Grandpa Gleason who passed away from throat cancer when Caden was two years old," she said.
On Friday night, Sparta beat Kalamazoo 6-1 and Portage beat Kenowa Hills 7-1.
The Knights and Eagles will face off in the consolation game Saturday at 3 p.m.
The championship game between Sparta and Portage is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and prior to the game, VanDyke will have the honor of dropping the puck.
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