The Crookston Pirate Boys and Girls hockey teams will have their second annual Crookston Pirate Hockey Fights Cancer games (through the Minnesota Hockey Fights Cancer Organization) on Thursday, January 11. The girls will take on the East Grand Forks Green Wave at 5:00 p.m., and the boys will take on the Warroad Warriors at 7:00 p.m. Both games will take place at the Crookston Sports Center.
“The Minnesota Hockey Fights Cancer Organization started years ago in Rosemount, and then they wanted to branch out and help other programs run similar fundraisers,” said Crookston Boys Head Hockey Coach Josh Hardy, “What’s unique with this program is that they let you choose who the funds that you raise go towards. Last year, Emily (Meyer) and I decided this is a good year to find a date in January that works, and we got some materials from the Minnesota Hockey Fights Cancer, and things blew up from there.”
Last year, during the inaugural Hockey Fights Cancer games, the community raised nearly $14,000 for the Northwest Minnesota Cancer Crusaders, who provide grants to local families traveling for cancer treatments. “Last year was a fantastic fundraiser. We raised about $14,000 between the boys’ and girls’ teams,” said Hardy. “That all went to the Northwest Minnesota Cancer Crusaders, and they provide travel grants for the local people in our area who are traveling for chemotherapy or cancer treatment.”
This year, the games are in honor of Dani Sylvester. Sylvester has run the Mini-Mite 1-2 and Learn to Skate programs for multiple years, and under her leadership, the community has seen explosive growth in participants. “Dani has been a Pirate alumnus, and she comes from a family that has always been about hockey,” said Crookston Girls Hockey head coach Emily Meyer. “Everything she’s done with our youth program, from learning to skate and helping us get our numbers back to where we want them. We’ve seen a decline in participation, and Dani has gone above and beyond to make hockey fun again in Crookston.”
On June 2, 2023, Dani was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She started Chemotherapy immediately on June 7 and since then has gone through a variety of chemotherapy treatments, radiation, and surgeries. Due to the type of cancer she has, a long road of therapy is ahead for the next 10 years until she is deemed in remission. “It was impacting here that someone like Dani was diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Meyer. “I know that it runs in their family, but it was hard to see someone like that get hit with this. It was a difficult time for everyone in the hockey community. Just seeing someone so strong have to fight this battle; ever since she’s been diagnosed, she’s hit the ground running, fought it hard, and never gave up or stopped what she’s been doing.”
After speaking with coach Meyer and Hardy, they stated there couldn’t have been a better recipient.
To donate, use the QR code below. Or you can also donate through Venmo at mnhockeyfights.
The price of admission will remain the same during both boy’s and girls’ games on Thursday. A silent auction will also take place during the games, and the proceeds will go toward the fundraiser. Dani Sylvester will drop the puck for the girl’s game, and during both high school games, Mini Mite hockey will take place between the first and second periods.
