FAIRBANKS- The Chippewa Steel and Fairbanks Ice Dogs will battle it out on the ice, while the Fairbanks community will help them both wage war on the deadly disease known as cancer. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs host their eighth annual Stick it To Cancer (SITC) series Thursday through Saturday night at the Big Dipper Ice Arena.
The Ice Dogs and Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation created the series, which benefits the Circle of Hope campaign, in 2012. The Circle of Hope raises funding in support of the J. Michael Carroll Cancer Treatment Center, and the Fairbanks Imaging and Breast Center at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. The Circle of Hope team will be on hand all weekend with information on the services offered at FMH and cancer awareness.
Each game begins with a ceremonial puck drop by a local cancer survivor, who’s story will be told to those in attendance.
Other activities include the return of chuck-a-puck, but with a bit of a twist as it will be the closest bone to the red dot that walks out with half the pot. But of course the big fundraiser is the jersey auctions that take place during intermission. Without a doubt the annual Stick it to Cancer jerseys are the most popular. At any given game you can see a Stick it to Cancer jersey, from over the years, in the Big Dipper stands.
The Dogs come into the 3-game home series in second place in the Midwest Division with 43 points, six back the first place Minnesota Magicians, and one point up on the Janesville Jets. Chippewa carries the midwest red lantern with 24 points.
Johnny Sorenson leads Fairbanks, and all NAHL rookies, with 34 points off 11 goals and 23 assists this season. Sorenson’s plus 15 rating also leads all Ice Dog skaters. Jax Murray (15-15-30) and Jack Johnston (14-16-30) are tied for second among Ice Dog scorers.
Nate Reid boasts a 2.14 goals against average, (.914 save percentage) which ranks eighth in the NAHL.
Tickets for stick it to cancer weekend are available at Play it Again Sports, Gene’s Chrysler, Fairbanks Community Museum, Ft. Wainwright ASYMCA, Eielson Community Center, the Ice Dogs office, and as always online at fairbanksicedogs.com.
