Wednesday's Home Finale for LHS Hockey Team Brings Stroke Awareness to the Rink

When the boys’ hockey team takes to the ice tonight, it will be doing more than looking to win the final home game of the season.

The team has made its Feb. 16 contest a “Stroke Awareness Game,” and will donate all ticket, concession and raffle sales to the American Heart Association.

The cause is an important one for the team, said co-captain David Nardella, after during last year's season, co-captain Charlie Guthrie’s father suffered a stroke.

The team played a game in Guthrie’s father’s honor last year, and raised money to help the Guthrie family make their home handicap-accessible.

“Charlie is a huge part of our team, and we want to do whatever we can to help him,” Nardella said. 

This year, the team decided to make its home finale a stroke awareness game, in hopes of raising $1,000 for the American Heart Association, Nardella said.

“We’re all together for it,” Nardella said, noting team members hung banners and posters throughout the school and town this week to promote the game and its cause.

They’ll also be skating tonight in purple jerseys with red lettering, the colors of the American Heart Association. Tonight’s game, against Belmont, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the  Chase skating facility.

“We hope people can do as much as can to help the cause,” Nardella said.

Those looking for more information on donating to the hockey team’s effort can visit its Stroke Awareness Game page on Facebook.