It may have been a bye week for the No. 4-ranked Pioneer hockey team, but that didn’t keep them off the ice of Magness Arena this weekend.
Magness was filled with nothing but smiles on Thursday night as the Pioneer hockey team hosted its 7th annual skate party with the Starlight Children’s Foundation of Colorado. Hockey players skated with over 60 ill children and their families.
“It’s fun to see their smiling faces and see how excited they get. It’s encouraging and uplifting,” said junior Rhett Rakhshani as he signed 12-year-old Nate James’ forehead.
Every team member and coach was present on Thursday to skate around the arena with the kids. The Pioneers signed and gave away pucks to everyone.
“It’s all bout engaging the sports players and having fun with the kids. These kids look forward to this night and having time to skate with these players,” said Debbie Jessup, executive director of Starlight in Denver.
The Pioneers spent an hour on the ice, helping the kids learn how to skate, competing in wheelchair races and giving the children a break from their daily hospital routine.
“This is my son’s favorite activity that Starlight does,” said parent Deanna Thompson who has been bringing her 12-year-old son Tommy to the event for the last five years. “He comes here, he smiles, he wants them to go faster. He gives the guys a workout. It puts a smile on his face and gives him an experience he would never get to enjoy by himself.”
Rakhshani and freshman Patrick Wiercioch took turns with the rest of the Pioneers racing Tommy around in his wheelchair.
“It’s been great,” Wiercioch said. “It’s great out here. It definitely puts your life into perspective. It almost seems like what you’re doing playing hockey is almost not nearly as valuable as what these kids are going through (especially) if we can put a smile on their face for just a second. It’s pretty meaningful for us especially because of how fortunate we are and how blessed we are to play hockey at this level.”
The Starlight Children’s Foundation helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. The Great Escapes program was created to provide families with time together, away from the hospital to relax and return home with a newfound sense of hope.
The Pioneers will travel to Grand Forks, N.D. this weekend to compete in a WCHA series against the No. 15 North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Denver is No. 1 in the WCHA with 23 points. North Dakota is tied for 4th with in-state rival Colorado College with 20 points.
Both games against the Fighting Sioux will be broadcast on Fox Sports News.
