ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women’s hockey team in conjunction with College Hockey America, will hold its annual “Skate With the Cure” game against Syracuse University at the Gene Polisseni Center on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 at 7:05 p.m. This year, RIT is supporting “Do It For Daron” (DIFD), an organization dedicated to raising awareness, inspiring conversations, and transforming youth mental health.
RIT will wear special purple jerseys that will be auctioned off via silent auction, with all proceeds going to DIFD. In addition, purple bracelets and lanyards will be given out with purchase of raffle tickets. The starting bids for the jerseys are $150 with a buy it now price of $300. Bidding will end at the start of the third period. There will also be several raffle prizes, including a signed stick, signed team photo and grand prize of a special DIFD jersey signed by the entire RIT women’s hockey team. There will also be chuck a puck after the second period with the winner receiving a $250 gift card to Bill Gray’s Restaurant.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for RIT staff, faculty, and alumni, and $3 for youth. RIT students receive free admission (one ticket limit per valid RIT ID). Tickets are available at the Gene Polisseni Center and Gordon Field House Box Offices, by calling (585) 475-4121 or by visiting www.rithockey.com.
On Nov. 13, 2010, 14-year-old Daron Richardson died by suicide. From this tragedy came a movement to transform youth mental health. Spearheaded by Daron’s parents Luke and Stephanie Richardson, who decided to transform their very private pain into a public call-to-action, a decision was made to support young people who suffer in silence from the pain of mental illness. Supported by the energy and efforts of dozens of Daron’s close friends and classmates, a grassroots movement was formed with the mission of creating awareness, inspiring conversations, and transforming youth mental health.
Do It For Daron (DIFD) encourages young people to talk openly about mental illness and to ask for help when needed. DIFD provides young people, their parents, teachers, coaches and other adult role models with the resources, outlets and, most importantly, courage to overcome the shame and fear of discussing mental illness. The purple DIFD heart, a creation inspired by Daron’s favorite color, has become the youth-driven symbol of this movement. It is a visual reminder that only love and awareness, not hiding in the shadows, can combat youth mental illness.
“We are honored to be partners with the Richardson family and the Do It For Daron Foundation,” said Bruce B. Bates Women’s Hockey Coach Scott McDonald. “Mental heath awareness is crucial in development of our youth. The DIFD organization certainly hits close to home within the hockey community. We are hopeful to spread the positive message throughout the Rochester community.”
RIT captain Taylor Thurston (Kanata, Ontario/All Saints Catholic) was a teammate with Daron Richardson growing up in the greater Ottawa area. They played together in bantams in 2009 and Midget AA with the Kanata Rangers. Thurston would go on to play with Daron’s older sister Morgan with the Ottawa Senators of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League.
“This game means so much not only to me personally having played with Daron, but thousands of youths that DIFD has inspired. It’s brought hope and inspiration to many and to play for this cause is something I will always remember.”
RIT (5-18-1, 1-8-1 CHA) enters the weekend looking to move up in the College Hockey America standings. Last weekend, the Tigers earned a split against CHA foe Penn State, winning by a score of 3-0 on Friday, while falling on Saturday, 3-2 in overtime. On Friday, Taylor Thurston (Kanata, Ontario/All Saints Catholic), Lindsay Stenason (Oakville, Ontario/Appleby Collegiate), and Jess Paton (Woodstock, Ontario/Waterloo K-W Rangers) scored, while Jetta Rackleff (Bend, OR/Summit) stopped 33 shots for her third career shutout and first win of the season. On Saturday, Reagan Rust (Southaven, MS/Moon Area) scored a goal and added an assist, while Paton also scored. RIT rallied from 2-0 down to force overtime. Rackleff made 26 saves.
Rackleff leads the Tigers wirh a 2.45 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. Rust has a point in five straight games and leads the squad in scoring with 15 points on five goals and 10 assists.
Syracuse enters the weekend with a 10-11-3 mark, including a 6-2-2 record in CHA play, good for second in the league standings. The Orange enter the weekend fresh off a split against CHA leader Mercyhurst. Syracuse won the opener, 2-0 on Friday, while Mercyhurst bounced back to win 3-1 on Saturday. Melissa Piacentini leads the Orange in scoring with 24 points on seven goals and 17 assists, while Stephanie Grossi is right behind with 23 points. Nicole Ferrara leads the team with 11 goals. Syracuse is out-scoring its opponents, 61-57 this season. In goal, Jenn Gilligan is 9-10-3 with a 2.26 goals against average and an .891 save percentage.
Syracuse won both earlier-season meetings between the two schools by a combined 12-2, winning 7-1 in Syracuse on Oct. 21 and 5-1 at the Polisseni Center on Nov. 18. Syracuse leads the all-time series between the two schools, 9-6-1. Eleven of the 16 meetings have either ended in ties or a one-goal difference, with seven going to overtime. RIT won the 2015 CHA Championship over Syracuse at Mercyhurst, 2-1 in double overtime on a goal by Carly Payerl (Kitchener, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic).
