The Hockey Fights Cancer initiative unites the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families and aims to continue to create awareness about the need for support for all affected by cancer. Hockey Fights Cancer was founded in 1998 by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association.
Throughout the week and at Friday’s game, the William Smith hockey team will be selling raffle tickets and collecting donations here to support the American Cancer Society. The team will be tabling in Scandling Center on Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. and at the game on Friday night. Tickets can also be purchased through Assistant Coach Kaylee Harnen. Raffle items donated by local businesses include a Heron Hockey swag bag, a one-night stay at the 41 Lakefront Hotel, tickets to the Geneva Moviplex, a Bose speaker and much more.
The Herons will also be sharing why/who they fight for on the HeronHockey Instagram account throughout the week. Fans can fill out “I Fight For” signs at the rink on Friday as well. Wiliam Smith will also wear Hockey Fights Cancer stickers on their helmets.
Before Saturday’s game against UMass Boston, the Herons will honor their eight seniors, Ava Cornforth, Brittany Foster, Sydney Foster, Alex George, Annie Hauser, Elizabeth MacMurray, Mackenzie O’Neil and Emily Rourke.
ABOUT THE HERONS
- William Smith is 14-6-1 overall with a 9-4-1 record in NEHC play. The Herons are third in the conference, with 28 points.
- Junior Kayla Ketchabaw leads the Herons with 11 goals. She is tied with O’Neil and Annabel Ziskin for the team lead with 18 points.
- Ziskin leads the Herons with 14 assists.
- Hauser and Murray have split time in goal for William Smith. Hauser has a GAA of 1.31 and a .955 save percentage.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
- Johnson & Wales is 5-14-2 overall, including a 4-9-1 record in league play. The Wildcats are eighth in the NEHC with 12 points
- Zoe Tow leads the Wildcats with nine points on four goals and five assists.
- Sara Cruise has a team-high five goals and Reese Middendorf has six assists.
- Leah White has played the majority of the minutes in net for the Wildcats. She is 3-11-1 with a 2.63 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
SERIES HISTORY
- Friday will be the sixth meeting between the Herons and the Wildcats.
- William Smith leads the all-time series 3-2-0. The Herons have won both meetings in Geneva.
- On Dec. 2, 2023, the Herons defeated the Wildcats 4-1. Brianna Felice and Emma Faso each scored twice. Hauser made 24 saves.
ABOUT THE BEACONS
- UMass Boston is 9-9-3 overall with an 8-4-2 mark in conference play. UMass Boston is fourth in the conference standings with 26 points.
- Katie Wilbert leads the Beacons with 10 points. She is tied for the team lead with four goals and six assists.
- Hannah Macdougall is right behind her with eight points.
- Leah Bosch has played the majority of the minutes in net for the Beacons. She is 5-9-3 with a 1.97 GAA and a save percentage of .931.
SERIES HISTORY
- Saturday will be the 13th meeting between the Herons and the Beacons.
- The Beacons lead the overall series 6-5-1, but the Herons lead 3-2-1 in Geneva.
- On Dec. 1, 2023, William Smith beat the Beacons 2-1 in Boston. Faso and Colleen Quirk each scoed and Hauser made 28 saves in the win.
Written by Abigail Soika ’25
