On the ice, the NYC Cyclones Girls’ 19U team certainly lives up to its name. Skating out of Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, this tightknit group of girls have been dominating opponents with a relentless offensive attack anchored by a formidable defense.
But it’s off the ice that the Cyclones are a true force of nature, dedicating themselves to helping others through their Hockey Fights Cancer campaign. Over the past three seasons, the team has raised more than $45,000 to help battle the disease with the same conviction they use to defeat their opponents on the ice.
Coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hockey Fights Cancer month is held throughout the months of October and November. It is a time when NHL teams typically hold a special night to shine a light on various people and programs in their area that wage a battle against cancer throughout the year. In addition to saluting those on the front lines, teams raise money via a variety of means, including auctions of team branded merchandise and player autographed equipment.
More than just NHL teams, youth hockey teams have joined in the fight to raise money and awareness with the support of the American Cancer Society.
Liz Eisenberg, team manager of the NYC Cyclones Girls’ 19U Team, contacted the American Cancer Society, which sent her the materials and information to build a website to solicit pledges throughout the month. In addition, the organization sent the team helmet decals and other promotional items to support the girls’ efforts.
Eisenberg’s daughter, Ella, not only created the team’s website (NYCCyclonesHFC.com) but also designed the jerseys that the team wore during their games in the month of November. The team complemented their uniforms with purple skate laces and purple stick tape.
This year the girls have upped their game with a $25,000 target. The team was looking to cap off their fundraising efforts with a doubleheader against the Troy Albany Ice Cats on Dec. 7 at Chelsea Piers. Due to player injuries, the Ice Cats were forced to postpone the games until a date in January.
Similar to what the teams did last year, families were planning to hold a bake sale in between games with all the proceeds going to the cause. In addition, players from both teams planned to line up at center ice and display placards in honor of those cancer survivors they were fighting for.
The Cyclones involvement with Hockey Fights Cancer dates back several years when the girls started talking about putting pink tape on their sticks for breast cancer awareness month. Eventually with the support of their coaches they decided to expand their efforts to focus on all forms of the disease.
“It’s not just breast cancer,” Liz Eisenberg said. “It’s all cancer and everyone is touched in some way by cancer. Unfortunately, it’s so common and impacts so many people. This cause is something we can all embrace.”
The team is hoping that the good karma they’ve earned throughout their campaign will carry over throughout the remainder of the season and all the way to the state tournament. Several of the older girls on the team have had a taste of competing at states and even skated at a USA Hockey National Championship tournament. Buoyed by their success earlier this year in the CGHL, the team is hoping to return to Amherst this March.
“This is a big year for us because those girls who went to states and nationals are seniors so this is their last year,” Eisenberg said. “It would be really special for them to finish on a high note.”