CINCINNATI -- When the Cincinnati Cyclones take on the Quad City Mallards this Saturday, the rink will be full of pink.
The team is raising awareness and money for breast cancer research at its fifth annual Pink in the Rink event.
The fight against breast cancer hits close to home for goalie Andy Iles, who has a pink ribbon on the back of his helmet.
"My grandmother was diagnosed and battled through it, went through chemo and everything about 15 years ago," Iles said.
Matt Macdonald, Cyclones head coach, also had a grandmother with breast cancer.
"Everybody has a connection in some way, and that's why it's a continual fight to overcome this and find ways to beat this disease," Macdonald said.
For the Pink in the Rink match, Cyclones players will be on the ice in pink jerseys, which will be auctioned off right after the game.
"I mean, to see these big, hunky hockey players domed in pink and on this pink ice -- it's really a wow factor," Pink Ribbon Girls founder Tracie Metzger said.
Metzger's organization, which benefits from the auction, provides free meals, housecleaning and transportation for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.
Tickets to Saturday's Pink in the Rink game are available at the Cyclones website.
The team also partnered with the Pink Ribbon Girls for Saturday morning's Frozen 5K fundraiser through downtown Cincinnati, which already has 2,500 people registered to run. Runners will get a T-shirt and ticket to the Pink in the Rink Game. Click here to register for the race.
