The York University Lions women’s hockey and basketball teams each hosted a charity night in the last week to raise money for their respective cancer charities, bringing in a total of more than $2,600 between the two of them.
The women’s hockey team hosted its fourth annual Roar for a Cure game in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, which is a charity near and dear to the team’s heart. Former Lions captain Jessica Turi was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease six years ago at the age of 18. After 12 bouts of chemotherapy, all while she completed classes as a student at York University, Turi was pronounced healthy by her doctors. She spent that summer getting herself back into shape and joined the Lions in time for the 2005-2006 season. She was a valuable member of the team for four years before graduating at the end of the 2008-2009 season.
Thanks to ticket sales, donations from fans and a silent auction, the Lions raised nearly $1,500 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
On the ice, current captain Chloe Milano scored the game winner in overtime to give the Lions an important 2-1 victory over the Queen’s Gaels as part of a three-game winning streak.
The women’s basketball team hosted its annual Shoot for the Cure event this past Saturday to raise funds for Lung Cancer Canada. The charity was chosen in honour of long-time Ryerson University Rams women’s basketball coach Sandy Pothier, who lost her courageous battle with cancer on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 21.
The Lions raised more than $1,100 at the game courtesy of ticket sales, fan donations and a raffle.
Also in attendance at the game was the 1996-97 York team that won a program-best national silver medal 15 years ago. Thirteen of the 14 women who played on that team attended Saturday’s game and were honoured at half-time for the legacy they left at York.
The women’s hockey and basketball teams are both battling hard for playoff positioning as their respective regular seasons wind down. Women’s basketball returns to home court at the Tait McKenzie Centre on Friday, Feb. 3, for a game against the Laurentian Lady Vees, while the women’s hockey team hits the ice at Canlan Ice Sports on Saturday, Feb. 4 against the Guelph Gryphons.