On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Purdue hockey team loaded up buses filled with players and fans and headed to Fishers, Ind. to take on Indiana University. Purdue Ice Hockey paired up with Purdue University Dance Marathon (PUDM) to put together this charity game For The Kids. To top it all off, Purdue defeated rival IU with a decisive, crushing victory of 7–3. 

The Purdue hockey team is a club sport and, therefore, entirely student led. A board of officers works together to plan practices and games as well as conduct other executive functions such as supplying the referees, vans, attire and hotels. President Alex Jackson collaborated with the club’s board of officers to execute the charity game. Money from apparel and ticket sales amounted to a $615 donation to PUDM in total. 

Purdue hockey doesn’t have an ice rink on campus, forcing the team to drive roughly an hour to Westfiled, Indiana where they practice once a week. Likewise, all of their home games are hosted in the neighboring town of Fishers at the Fishers Forum rink, but the boys on the team don’t mind traveling for their sport. Assistant captain and Public Relations officer Nick Bressi says, “Most people who play football, soccer, etc. will complain and say how they don’t want to go to practice, but when you ask around, every player on this team can’t wait to get out there.”  

The Purdue hockey officers coordinate and provide transportation to practices and games, and buses were packed to the brim with excited students coming out to support the team and PUDM’s cause this week. The atmosphere at the Fishers Forum was electric as Purdue hockey dominated the game.  

Excitement was augmented by the fact that our school’s beloved mascot, Purdue Pete, made the journey to the charity game, marking the first time Pete’s ever been on ice. Bressi stated, “It’s always great to see the crowd going nuts every time a big play happens and to see them heckle the other team.”