ITHACA, N.Y. — With a star-studded lineup including Hockey Hall of Famers and several NHL and Cornell Hockey alumni, the fourth annual Racker Rivals Big Red game raised more than $120,000 for Racker.
The exhibition hockey game was played on July 14 in front of roughly 2,000 fans at Lynah Rink, home to the Cornell hockey programs. Among the participants were three-time Stanley Cup champion Joe Nieuwendyk, U.S. Olympic captain Brian Gionta and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Mike Richter. Others included Alex Tuch, who just helped the first-year Vegas Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup finals; Joakim Ryan ’15, a rising star who played in 62 games as a rookie with the San Jose Sharks last year; and other program alums Anthony Angello, Cole Bardreau ’15 and Andy Iles ’14.
Cornell fan favorite and former assistant coach Topher Scott ’08, who has been instrumental in the development of Racker Rivals Big Red, served as event chair.
Ithaca-based Racker, formerly known as Franziska Racker Centers, has been supporting individuals with disabilities and their families for 70 years by offering opportunities to learn and be connected with others and fostering an environment of inclusion, where all people know they belong.
