IceDogs giving FACS Superhero treatment
Caped crusaders will be taking to the ice at Meridian Centre on Friday when the Niagara IceDogs take on the Windsor Spitfires.
October is Child Abuse Prevention Month in Ontario and to help raise awareness, the IceDogs will be donning special superhero themed jerseys. Following the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Family and Children’s Services Niagara’s foundation.
“We’ve always had a great partnership with (FACS), they’ve always come out and we support them in bringing a big group out to games,” said Niagara IceDogs owner Bill Burke.
“We do four special sweaters a year and we thought that FACS deserved to have their night. We pay for all of the sweaters and socks and everything, then they are auctioned off and (FACS will) get 100 per cent of the money.”
The special jerseys, designed in house by Jamie Burke, are red with rippling abs shown on the front and feature a yellow and black stylized N for Niagara. The back of the jersey resembles a black cape. On the sleeves, the IceDogs mascot Bones appears with a mask and cape.
“It’s got that Batman or Superman look with the cape on the back. The kids are going to love it.”
The minimum bid for each jersey is $250.
“Depending on the player, the bidding can get quite high, especially when it’s unique and we’ve never had a sweater like this before,” said Burke.
FACS executive director Anna Bozza said the agency has had a long relationship with the Niagara IceDogs, who typically host a FACS night each October.
“We’ll have some of our superheroes with us (Friday) night: the foster parents, volunteers, volunteer drivers and staff,” she said. “It’s a real honour to say thanks to the community. It takes a community to make it safe for kids.”
Friday’s game starts at 7 p.m. The auction follows the game in Section 105. All game-worn jerseys will be washed and signed before being delivered to buyers.