Eastern men’s varsity hockey team played their annual Pink in the Rink game Oct. 10 against the University of Victoria’s Vikes.

The festivities included players wearing pink laces, using pink athletic tape and fans dressed in all pink to support breast cancer awareness while cheering on the Eagle’s hockey team.

“It’s a good atmosphere,” said defenceman Chase Wharton. “Everybody enjoys the opportunity to wear pink. It is a cool thing for players and fans to support [breast cancer awareness].”

Carol Golden, senior secretary of the school of social work, dropped the puck to begin the game. This was the fourth consecutive year a cancer survivor performed the ceremonial puck drop.

Golden has worked at EWU for 26 years and was diagnosed with two separate forms of breast cancer: once in 2000 and again in 2011. She wanted to be a part of this event to let people battling cancer know they are not alone.

“It is really important, because not only am I a one-time survivor but a two-time survivor. It was really rough for me the first time, not having anyone to talk to. The second time I knew what to expect and now I’m here to help other people,” said Golden. “It is a matter of being there to answer peoples’ questions and keep them positive.”

Due to a lack of funding, the team was not able to paint the rink with pink ribbons, as they have done in the past, but they did have a full crowd of pink cheering for the home squad.

The Eagles would go on to lose the game after allowing a last minute goal to Victoria, 4-3. The loss moved the Eagles to a record of 2-2 in a 3-way tie for the division lead with four points.

First-year player Beau Walker continued his recent scoring hot streak, recording three points to add to his team lead of 10.

The Pink in the Rink hockey game symbolized more than just sport.

“This makes it fun; it isn’t all just scary negative,” said Golden.

Golden said fundraisers and awareness events like Pink in the Rink help to give people hope, which is one of the most important things people battling cancer can have.

“It is all about the positive attitude. You have to get through and survive, this is not a death sentence anymore. Stay positive, it is a scary thing to go through, to think you have to make yourself sick to get better with all the poisons put in your system. But you have to do that. It is a journey, a journey to survive.”