Like other teams, the OHL's Plymouth Whalers do their part during Breast Cancer Awareness month, donning pink jerseys and having a Pink Out at the rink for the fourth consecutive season. But unlike other teams, they take it one step further: Dying their hair shocking pink, as a team.
The 2011 Whalers Pink Out was Saturday night against the Sarnia Sting, with a jersey auction that benefitted the Karmanos Cancer Institute. The players had their hair styled for the game throughout the week, courtesy of Lucky Hair Company.
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood is a four-year veteran of the Pink Out! and decided to go with a blow-dried look after working with a Mohawk in other years. Alex Aleardi looked sharp in a pink do that was slicked back. Matt Mahalak continued with the tradition of a Mohawk. Nick Malysa decided to get his fu-manchu mustache pinked out.
Although Andy Bathgate has played four full seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, this is his first year in Plymouth. "We never did this in Belleville," Bathgate said with a smile.
Plymouth defenseman Austin Levi had the most creative hair cut last season, with a Mohawk shaped into a breast cancer ribbon. Stylist Theresa Wojtan worked with Levi last year and looks forward to collaborating with the Carolina Hurricanes draft this season. "This year, instead of doing the Mohawk that went into the breast cancer ribbon, we're doing his entire head a breast cancer ribbon. He came in with the idea and I said, 'Let's go with it.'
And go with it he did:
You've really not seen a hockey fight until you've seen a guy with a breast cancer ribbon on his head in a hockey fight.