QMJHL joins fight against breast cancer

Press Release

BOUCHERVILLE, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 – The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and its eighteen franchises are extremely proud to announce the official launch of a new fundraising initiative to help support the fight against breast cancer.

Over the past several months, the QMJHL and its teams have been hard at work developing eighteen prototype pink jerseys which will be worn by players during a home game in October; Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"Most people know or care for someone who is or who has been afflicted by this terrible disease," commented the Commissioner of the QMJHL, Gilles Courteau. "Statistics show that one out of every nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and its eighteen franchises wish to play their part in the fight against breast cancer by generating funds with a unique fundraising initiative: The sale of specifically designed (pink) game-worn jerseys. Furthermore, our goal is to help raise as much awareness as possible."

The money which will be raised by teams from the sale of more than 400 game-worn jerseys will be distributed either to the Breast Cancer Foundation or to a local chapter. Clubs have also planned a number of other fundraising initiatives to help maximize donations.

"Our fight is made possible by the contribution of exceptional partners such as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League," said Suzanne Lebreux, General Manager of the Quebec Chapter of the Breast Cancer Foundation. "Moreover, we are very encouraged by the recent results. The survival rate has jumped 25% in the past 20 years. We are on the right path. We would like to salute the generosity of the QMJHL and its partners for helping us in the fight against breast cancer."

An official announcement will be made in early November to unveil the final tally.

Here is the official schedule of games for the QMJHL fight against breast cancer

October 3 – Drummondville Voltigeurs (Centre Marcel-Dionne)
October 10 & 11 – Moncton Wildcats (Moncton Coliseum)
October 14 – Chicoutimi Saguenéens (Centre Georges-Vézina)
October 16 – P.E.I. Rocket (Charlottetown Civic Centre)
October 17 – Lewiston MAINEiacs (Androscoggin Bank Colisée)
October 17 – Quebec Remparts (Colisée Pepsi)
October 17 – Saint John Sea Dogs (Harbour Station)
October 18 – Baie-Comeau Drakkar (Centre Henry-Léonard)
October 21 – Montreal Juniors (Verdun Auditorium)
October 23 – Shawinigan Cataractes (Centre Bionest)
October 23 – Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (Centre 200)
October 24 – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (Aréan Dave-Keon)
October 24 – Halifax Mooseheads (Metro Centre)
October 24 – Foreurs de Val-d’Or (Centre air Creebec)
October 25 – Tigres de Victoriaville (Colisée Desjardins)
October 28 – Titan d’Acadie-Bathurst (Centre régional K.C. Irving)
October 30 – Rimouski Océanic (Colisée de Rimouski)
October 30 – Gatineau Olympiques (Centre Robert-Guertin)

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)