NV Hockey Wins On and Off the Ice

By David Tay

staff writer

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hero as “a person admired for achievements and noble qualities; one who shows great courage.” Two weeks ago, the Northview Hockey team showed the community new boundaries for how much a group of individuals can come to represent that definition.

The annual Pink in the Rink tournament is a weekend competition hosted by the co-op Northview, Comstock Park, and Sparta ice hockey team. Northview and West Catholic advanced to the finals, in which Northview won to claim the championship. The proceeds from the event are used to benefit the victims of cancer. This year Dearborn, Hudsonville, West Catholic and Northview all competed to raise a total of $6,200, generated through ticket sales, a silent auction, raffles, and donations. The players also donned special pink jerseys to honor those who have battled and continue to battle with cancer.

This was the sixth annual Pink in the Rink Tournament that Northview has hosted and in years past, the proceeds have gone to various cancer support and research organizations, such as the American Cancer Society. This year, though, was a little bit different. “Dave Rue is his name, he’s a local official and referee, well known,” said Jerry Klekotka, the athletic director of Northview Schools. “This year [the money raised] went to Dave Rue, I think that’s just because he’s so tightly connected to the hockey community.” One hundred percent of the proceeds that came out of the tournament this year went to the family of Dave Rue, who has been battling cancer himself.

This is the first time the money has been donated to an individual and not a larger organization. Rue, known colloquially as “The Ruester,” had tremendous support from the community. Many of the fans sported stickers that had a rooster on them and the words “Never give up.” Klekotka commented, “It just goes to show that little people can do big things, so that’s pretty cool.”
Dave Rue lost his battle to cancer and passed away on Saturday, February 11, but not before experiencing the tremendous support that a single team, with the help of the community, can provide. His memory is cherished by those who knew him, and his impact on the hockey community is not lost.

Pink in the Rink is bigger than the individual and bigger than the hockey team itself, Klekotka explained, and this event proved to both the team and the community that helping others is not only the right thing to do, it’s something that feels good as well. For that reason, Klekotka believes that Pink in the Rink is an event that will continue to be supported by Northview High School. “This isn’t going anywhere. It’s been here a long time and it’s going to stay here.”

Share on Google Plus