Cloudy with rain and snow. High near 40F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected..
Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: November 28, 2024 @ 4:16 am
The Canandaigua Knights 10U AA hockey team will wear special purple jerseys for its Hockey Fights Cancer fundraiser game on Nov. 30 at the Canandaigua Civic Center.
Players from the Canandaigua Knights 10U team visited Golisano Children’s Hospital last week, delivering thank you cards, toys and books to the patients and staff.
The Canandaigua Knights 10U AA hockey team will wear special purple jerseys for its Hockey Fights Cancer fundraiser game on Nov. 30 at the Canandaigua Civic Center.
Players from the Canandaigua Knights 10U team visited Golisano Children’s Hospital last week, delivering thank you cards, toys and books to the patients and staff.
CANANDAIGUA — Being thankful and giving selflessly aren’t reserved for just one time of the year, but there’s no denying the two ascend around the holidays.
Need proof? Just ask the Canandaigua Knights 10U AA youth hockey team.
The team, led by head coach Tory Carissimo, is hosting a special Hockey Fights Cancer game Saturday, Nov. 30, at 3:30 p.m. at the Greater Canandaigua Civic Center. The event will support the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer fund, managed by the American Cancer Society. All proceeds will go toward cancer research and patient care.
“I’ve had this idea before,” said Carissimo who in addition to coaching is also a referee in the American Hockey League. “I go out on the ice with the Amerks and they do a Hockey Fights Cancer game and this year we have great players and families and I thought this would be a great opportunity. I didn’t say it out loud but I thought if we could raise three of four thousand dollars, it would be a cool team-building thing.”
That idea has snowballed, into over $34,000 in total contributions.
“I think one of my roles as a coach — especially in Canandaigua, a very small market — is to make great hockey players but also great human beings and community members and family members and things like that,” Carissimo said. “We’re playing youth sports to learn how to work hard and set goals for ourselves. So every game we talk about playing to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and that’s kind of what spurred it.”
In the weeks of collecting donations prior to the night itself, the outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming. In just four weeks, the team has reached over $34,000 in total contributions thanks to support from more than 20 local businesses and over 100 families and individuals.
“This has truly become a community-wide movement,” Carissimo said. “We’re honored to see our young players, their families, and the entire Canandaigua community rallying together to support the American Cancer Society.
“The majority of the funds coming are businesses,” Carissimo continued. “We are trying to put on this big, over-the-top experience and we are trying to do that in a respectful way and they are helping us do that. And then after the event, all the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society and we’ll write a big check at the end.”
It’s not just local businesses and families chipping in, it’s the players themselves that have taken the responsibilities head on. Last week, the team visited Golisano Children’s Hospital to deliver toys, books and thank-you cards to patients, nurses and doctors.
“It’s to try and help connect the kids to the cause,” Carissimo said of the visit to the children’s hospital. “Yes, we are doing this really cool, over-the-top youth hockey game, but why we’re doing that is because of this stuff; to stand with the people fighting their illnesses.”
In addition to the funds raised, additional gifts have been made to put into raffles for the day of the game. The Buffalo Sabres, Rochester Americans, Rochester Knighthawks and even the Penn State Hockey team have each donated four game tickets to be raffled off. Businesses have donated prize baskets to be won via raffles and some have even cold-called Carissimo asking where to drop checks off.
“It’s so crazy. It has completely floored me,” Carissimo said. “Businesses are now coming to me completely unsolicited. We started reaching out but lately I am getting sponsors that have come to me saying, ‘I’ve written a check, how do we become a part of this?’ And I am like, ‘Oh my goodness, this is amazing.’”
New York State Sen. Pam Helming will be in attendance to congratulate the players before the game as well as present the team with the NY Senate Empire Award honoring its community impact and the contributions to the fight against cancer.
“I’m sure it’s going to be stressful leading up to it but I am going to try and enjoy the day once we get set up,” Carissimo said.
Continuing on in the pregame ceremonies a presence of local first responders from the Canandaigua Police and Fire Departments, Ontario County Sheriffs, and the Canandaigua Emergency Squad will be in attendance along with a color guard and two massive U.S. flags held by the players during the national anthem. There will also be a ceremonial puck drop with a guest of honor and a moment of silence to honor those affected by cancer.
Special lighting effects by NXT Level Audio & Visual will run parallel with professional live-streaming and play-by-play commentary from Gene Battaglia.
“We’ve also got all types of raffles happening,” Carissimo said. “The Buffalo Sabres gave us four tickets, the Amerks gave us four tickets, the Knighthawks gave us four tickets, Penn St. hockey gave us four tickets. And then we have businesses that have donated gift baskets and lottery ticket baskets, hockey supplies and so many cool things. The AHL sent us two signed goalie sticks from the All-Star game last year as well.”
What Carissimo and the Canandaigua Knights have done is set the stage for the community to come together, but the young players’ responses has been more than Carissimo ever thought possible.
“The topic of cancer for 9 and 10 year olds can be kind of tough,” Carissimo said. “They’ve shared their connection to cancer and the family members it’s affected. It’s impressive to see how well they’ve connected to the cause for something that can be kind of scary topic for a 9 or 10 year old.”
Carissimo had the idea as a way to show his young players that they can make a difference and contribute to something larger than themselves. The response from the players and community will leave a lasting impact on Carissimo, who believes that hockey at its core provides a unique environment for moments and movements such as this.
“The hockey world always seems to be leading in these community activities,” Carissimo said. “I love the way the NHL and the AHL does these events and the kids see some of their idols participating in community events and giving back, and then having them participate in it shows them that they are playing a cool game, but people are looking up to you. Even though you’re 9 and 10 years old, you’re the Canandaigua hockey team. Their friends at school are looking up to them; they’re on TV, they’re in the newspaper — this is cool.”
At its core, there will be a youth hockey game played at the Canandaigua Civic Center on Saturday. But to everyone affected by cancer, the game will represent so much more.
To donate, go to https://www.ckhockey.org/.
Event Schedule
When: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024
Where: Canandaigua Civic Center, 250 N Bloomfield Rd, Canandaigua, NY 14424
Schedule
2 p.m. — Public Skating at the Canandaigua Civic Center ($10 admission, $5 skate rental)
2:30 p.m. — Players & families arrive for the game
3:30 p.m. — Pre-game ceremony (free admission to the game)
3:45 p.m. — Opening puck drop
5 p.m. — Game Ends
About Hockey Fights Cancer
Hockey Fights Cancer is an initiative founded in 1998 by the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association to raise funds for cancer research, patient care and advocacy. Since its inception, the program has raised millions of dollars to support the American Cancer Society and other organizations dedicated to the fight against cancer.
The Finger Lakes Times mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Finger Lakes Times on your mobile device just as it appears in print.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
