In most cases, it’s very difficult to get a large group of college students to agree on anything. For a college hockey team, especially one comprised of students from different parts of the country, that task would seem even more challenging.

For the men’s hockey team, however, that belief doesn’t seem to apply, and their actions this past week provided as good an example as any that good things can come from a group of men with a singular goal.

During the team’s Feb. 12 game against Nichols College, the Rams decided to wear pink jerseys to help raise breast cancer awareness. Eschewing the normal navy and gold jerseys, the men showed their support with specially-made sweaters with the traditional awareness ribbon, as well as pink game socks. The idea did not come from the coaches or parents of the players, but the players themselves.

The fact that the team won the game, 3-1, to jumpstart an important end-of-season stretch is important, but almost secondary to the message being sent.

Head Coach Chris Gliona explained the team has a community service requirement, and each year the coaches impress upon them the importance of helping out. In years past they have held readings at local schools, but this year they decided to expand.

“I’m very impressed with the players,” said Gliona. “How it came about was last year we went out to play Becker College, and Becker had done it, and our kids got involved, and had raised some money and contributed to what Becker had done.”

The players decided to adopt that idea, and did all the work themselves: promoting the event and getting all the particulars in order.

“This year, they said wanted to do what Becker did, and raise money and awareness for breast cancer by wearing the pink jerseys,” the coach added. “I sort of put it on them, and said, ‘you guys need to get involved and take care of this.’ And they went out and contacted the vendors and got the designs and the jerseys all made up, and they raised the money to pay for the jerseys. And they got the word out about the game. Overall, it was a huge success.”

The money donated at the team’s game will be distributed to local cancer charities. To find out more ways to get involved and help a good cause, contact Head Coach Chris Gliona at [email protected].