The Cambridge Rindge and Latin boys’ and girls’ hockey teams may have split their games in their third annual Hockey Fights Cancer fundraiser, but are the clear winners when it comes to fundraising.
The two teams have so far raised $15,445, best tally in the nation amongst those participating – a list which includes both collegiate and fellow youth league teams. Supporters can still donate to the campaign for more than three months.
The money will be used to fund a litany of patient programs and support services through the American Cancer Society.
CRLS Joins Hockey Fights Cancer
Hockey Fights Cancer started in 1998, when John Cullen, a center for the Tampa Bay Lightning, returned to the team after a year undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. That sparked a partnership between the Lightning and the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, soon joined by the NHL and NHL Players Union.
Cambridge teams got involved in 2024 after Stew Wiley, head coach of the boys’ hockey team, stepped away when a member of his family was diagnosed with cancer. One of the players on Wiley’s team that year was Daniel Brightman. His mother is Dr. Laura Brightman, a physician at Cambridge Health Alliance. She got a starter package of materials from the American Cancer Society and started organizing fundraising efforts.
Students put up “I Fight For … ” signs — a staple of this year’s game, as well — to display who they were playing for. They added purple tape to their equipment to symbolize their support for cancer patients and used social media to spread word of the games.
Players from the boys’ and girls’ teams met twice to plan events and both teams ran bake sales while the other played their charity game. They also helped clean up Simoni Rink after the event. In total, 21 players from CRLS donated roughly 45 hours of their time to raise over $3,200.
After this year’s games, Brightman said “These players have been invested in Hockey Fights Cancer from the start, because it is a meaningful way for them to contribute to their community in addition to being athletes and students.”
The Players Take Over
That was true for Owen Goldstein, a goalie for the CRLS boys’ team. As a junior last year he took the lead on fundraising efforts and planning for the yearly games. “I really wanted to do it because a lot of members of my family were affected by cancer, and also I am interested in a career in medicine, and I felt like this was a really good way of starting off my career,” he said.
Last year the team raised $6,000. This year, he said he “decided to really go for it.” He sent out email updates almost daily to his team about the fundraiser and related initiatives, collaborating with the girls’ team to plan fundraising efforts and participating in general outreach on behalf of his team. It was Goldstein’s idea to combine Cambridge Youth Hockey Day with the Hockey Fights Cancer game. “I talked to our coaches, and we decided that we might as well do it on a day where we were going to have as many fans as possible,” said Goldstein.
Caroline Rapp has helped to lead efforts for the girls’ part of the joint effort. She said collaborating has been important. “A lot of times the boys’ team does stuff that we don’t get to partake in, and it’s good that we also have a chance to join in and also do something for a good cause.”
Rapp added that her team focused on general fundraising and spreading awareness throughout the community. “Some new players on the boys’ team have raised a lot of money, and we have done a better job of getting it out there — this is our third year, so we know more about what we are doing,” she said.
Boys and Girls Varsity Doubleheader
The boys’ team played the first game of the doubleheader, against the Lowell Red Raiders. Tied 1-1 at the end of two periods, CRLS and Lowell traded goals in the third before the Falcons pulled away, winning 4-2.
Forwards Liam Molberger and Joel Perez, as well as defenseman Joshua Pite, each recorded a goal and assist. Tate Schoenau scored the other goal. Matias Moore had three assists and Vincent Caterina and Everett Mildwoff each had one. Goldstein made 27 saves.
Then the girls faced off against the Concord-Carlisle Patriots. The Patriots scored twice in the first period before the Falcons scored in the second to cut the lead to 2-1. The teams traded goals in the third and despite a hectic finish, the Falcons fell 3-2.
Rapp scored and added an assist, and Allie DelVecchio scored her first goal of the season. Surina Phelan and Allison Rapp also had assists. Goalie Max-Cowen Breen racked up 37 saves.
While fundraising goals were exceeded, CRLS boys coach Andrew Ball tempered the team’s fundraising successes. “We hit a high number, I don’t know that we can hit $15,000 again,” said Ball. He added, “it’s great to raise $15,000, but it’s not about the amount of money, it’s about the [players] taking ownership of this opportunity and learning what it’s like to support things and do things that aren’t just about them.”
This story has been updated to give Surina Phelan credit for an assist, and to note photo credits for Gadi Reinhorn and Sarah Christopher.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.