'Shoot for a Cure' back Saturday at MSU

Michigan State’s “Shoot for a Cure” initiative will feature two events at the Spartans’ hockey game on Dec. 6 against the University of Michigan. It’s a chance to get Spartan hockey memorabilia for your favorite fan for the upcoming holidays, as well as donate to a worthy cause - the fight against children’s cancer.

Saturday’s game will feature the first of two “Chuck-a-Puck” games this season. Fans can purchase pucks at the game ($2 each, three for $5) and during the second intermission, toss them on the ice for a chance to win a prize pack from the MSU hockey family and the Department of Athletics. The puck landing closest to the center-ice dot will win a package that includes an MSU hockey golf shirt, a 2007 NCAA championship T-shirt and an autographed picture of Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres. Pucks will be sold beginning at 6 p.m. at the “Shoot for a Cure” table outside of the pro shop on the south concourse. In addition, fans can bid on silent auction items autographed by former Spartans now playing professional hockey - great holiday gifts for the Spartan hockey fan. In addition, the 2008-09 version of the “Shoot for a Cure” T-shirts will be on sale for $15.

In addition to the “Shoot for a Cure” activities, the Spartans will continue their post-game autograph sessions on the concourse. Saturday night, senior defenseman Brandon Gentile will sign on the northwest corner of the concourse at the conclusion of the game.

Tickets for Saturday night’s home game against Michigan – and all remaining home games – can be purchased by calling the Spartan ticket office at 1-800-GO-STATE (517-355-1610 in the Lansing area) or going online at http://www.msuspartans.com/.

ABOUT SHOOT FOR A CURE: “Shoot for a Cure” was started by former Spartans forward Justin Abdelkader and current senior Daniel Sturges and is in its second season in 2008-09. Last year, the initiative raised more than $5,000 through a Chuck-a-Puck contest and silent auction. Every dollar collected through “Shoot for a Cure” - the Stanley Cup visit, the silent auctions, T-shirt sales and Chuck-a-Puck - goes directly to Cure Kids Cancer at Sparrow Hospital.

This year, the initiative got a jump-start with a visit by the Stanley Cup to the Michigan State-Notre Dame football game on Sept. 20. About $2,500 was raised in under two hours as more than 300 people had their photo taken with the world’s most famous trophy.

The Michigan State hockey team has steadily increased its commitment to the fight against children’s cancer. For the past four years, team members have been volunteers at the Sparrow Hospital pediatric ward. Through the Spartan Buddies program, they have visited with many children and their families who have had to fight this awful disease. While the fundraising effort is the public face of the initiative, the team also spends time with the children and their families both at the hospital and away from the facility, hosting them at home games and practices, at special events and developing friendships. The “Shoot for a Cure” logo is also now displayed on the ice surface at Munn Ice Arena.

Throughout the hockey season, fans can help the Spartans fight children’s cancer through a variety of “Shoot for a Cure” activities. This year’s “Chuck-a-Puck” contests will take place twice this season - in addition to Saturday’s game against Michigan, one will also be held on Feb. 28 vs. Notre Dame. Winners will receive a prize package courtesy of the MSU hockey family, thanks to the generosity of the Spartan hockey program and former MSU skaters now in the NHL. This season, there will be silent auction items at each home game. Auction items include, but are not limited to, autographed NHL photos of former Spartans, autographed photos of some of the program’s most-loved players during their time at MSU and autographed items from Michigan State’s 2007 national championship and the 2001 Cold War game.

For donation information, visit the Shoot for a Cure table on the concourse during a home game or contact Director of Student-Athlete Development Angela Howard at (517) 355-2205.