It’s really hard to miss, even as the fastest of skaters streaks down the ice — a bright blue speck on an otherwise pristine scarlet and white sweater. It stands out, just as it’s supposed to, in order to catch your eye. “It” is a bright blue patch in the shape of a puzzle piece on the left shoulder of the Boston University men’s hockey team’s sweaters, illustrating that team’s involvement with Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy program and the charity of choice for the Terriers hockey program since 2004.
A small blue patch on BU's sweaters represents a cause that means a lot to the team.
College athletes in general typically do an outstanding job of giving back to their local communities, and hockey teams are no exception. Many teams hold food and toy drives around the holidays, players go to area schools to tutor and read to children, and teams hold events to raise funds and awareness for various causes. College hockey even provides an annual award to recognize one player for their community service efforts.
Just as college players giving back to the community is not unique to Boston University, neither are specialty uniforms, most of which wind up being auctioned off to raise money for a particular cause. Even just last season, the Colgate women’s hockey team wore a special uniform on Jan. 28 in their game against Rensselaer that featured the autism symbol puzzle pieces along the bottom and on the inside of the sleeves.
In nearly every case, though, a special charity jersey was only worn for a limited engagement. In discussions between the Boston University hockey program and Autism Speaks representatives before the season to explore options for the team to increase their involvement, the Colgate women’s hockey sweater for autism was brought up. Since autism is a disorder that affects boys far more than it affects girls, the question was posed as to how the men’s team could help to raise awareness, and that evolved into the placement of the puzzle piece on the shoulder of their home and road sweaters.
What makes the Terriers different is that they elected to wear the puzzle-piece patch for the remainder of the season, rather than a one-off sweater that would make limited appearances. Few teams have ever worn a sweater that raises awareness for a charity cause for a lengthy period of time, with a notable exception of the professional soccer club FC Barcelona that paid to bear the logo for UNICEF on their jerseys for a five-year period that ended last summer.
“This is just a cause we feel is something important, that we appreciate and take very seriously,” said senior captain Chris Connolly of the team’s work for those with the disorder. “We’re very happy to support them — they’re big fans of what we do on the ice. We take the patch seriously; any way we can support them, we’ll do it.”
The Terriers’ involvement with autism extends far beyond merely raising awareness. Players have taken to helping at the Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism Speaks, originally starting with attending the walk, but getting increasingly involved with volunteering at the event, working stations and helping to set up and break down the event. The players have also worked directly with those with autism, inviting children to join them in watching a women’s hockey game near the end of the season.
“I thought it was great that we were doing it,” added fellow senior Kevin Gilroy. “Nobody really knows much about or pays much attention to autism, and we thought it was a great idea. After the first game with the patch, people were asking us what the puzzle piece was for, and it brings them in, gets them curious about it, so they look it up and end up getting involved with it.”
The patch first appeared on the Terriers’ sweaters prior to the Dec. 2 win against cross-town rival Boston College. Since the patch appeared, Boston University has gone 6-2, compared to the 7-4-1 mark the Terriers sported before the placement of the patch. The Terriers also have a track record with uniform patches — Boston University last wore a season-long patch on their shoulder during the 2008-09 season, wearing a patch bearing the initials of Scott Cashman, a former player who passed away shortly before the season. The Terriers went on to win the national title that season.
“The guys know what the logo stands for, and it’s a good little emblem to have on your shoulder,” Connolly said. “It’s a good reminder that there are more important things in life than playing hockey, and that we’re fortunate to be able to put that jersey on.”
FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG
• When UMass-Lowell hosts Northeastern Friday night at the Tsongas Center, the Huskies won’t be the only dogs in the building. Lowell is hosting a Pucks and Paws Night, with fans encouraged to bring their own dogs to the rink. Don’t have a pup? The Lowell Humane Society will also have pups available for adoption on site.
• New Hampshire’s Stevie Moses had a five-goal week last week in wins over Providence and Dartmouth to catapult him into the league goal-scoring lead with 16. Moses’ five goals were the only tallies for the Wildcats in the two games as New Hampshire snapped a five-game losing skid.
• You can’t fault Northeastern for wanting to turn back the clock to December. After finishing out 2011 with a 7-0-1 mark in their last eight games, the Huskies have started out 2012 with a pair of losses to slip back under the .500 mark for the year.
