During the fall semester, IUP’s Men’s Ice Hockey Club team raised $2,350 for the Western Pennsylvania Veterans Relief Fund and collected more than 200 stuffed animals for pediatric patients at Indiana Regional Medical Center.
Altogether, the team has raised $9,800 over the past five years for the Western Pennsylvania Veterans Relief Fund and is one of the organization’s “top 10” donors.
From left, IUP men’s ice hockey team members Richard Wild, Maddox Rearic, Chase Malloy, Indiana Regional Medical Center Healthcare Foundation Executive Director Heather Reed, Zack Zooy, Jace Rearic, Eric Dennis.
Team members raised the funds during its fifth annual Movember Mustache Challenge. This tradition sees team members voluntarily embracing the mustache-growing journey during the month of November while raising funds by encouraging their friends, family, and fans to cast their votes (and make donations) in support of the most impressive moustache. The Movember Mustache Challenge is a national movement to bring awareness to issues unique to men’s health.
The Western Pennsylvania Veterans Relief Fund provides financial aid to active-duty soldiers and veterans who have a specific need that necessitates financial assistance. Since its inception in 2018, the WPVRF has worked with veterans to pay for rent, utilities, and other bills. The fund has also supported military families for expenses with child rearing and education.
“The WPVRF Board is blessed and thankful for the generous and continuous donations from the IUP Men’s Hockey Club,” WPVRF Board President Timothy Kronenwetter said. “These young men are truly an inspiration in their dedication to make our communities a better and uplifting place to live. No doubt they will go far in their upcoming careers and life!”
In addition to its annual Movember Mustache Challenge, the team organized its fourth annual stuffed animal drive during its December 7 game for pediatric patients at Indiana Regional Medical Center. Spectators brought and tossed more than 200 stuffed animals on the ice during the game in celebration of a goal by Chase Malloy.
“We are incredibly grateful to the IUP Men’s Hockey team for giving our smallest patients a reason to look up to them both on and off the ice,” Indiana Regional Medical Center Healthcare Foundation Executive Director Heather Reed said.
IUP men’s ice hockey team members with Timothy Kronenwetter, president of the Western Pennsylvania Veterans Relief Fund Board of Directors.
The IUP Men’s Hockey is a proud member of the American College Hockey Association, with a record of 15-6-1, sitting in first place in their division and looking to repeat as divisional champions and return to the ACHA National Tournament in St. Louis, MO. The IUP hockey team plays all home games at S&T Bank Arena, including five home games in the spring semester.
"The IUP hockey players are an exceptional group of student athletes and very proud to be part of their community involvement,” Coach Dominick Glavach said.