Friday December 18 at the Waupun Community Center home to the Waupun Warriors Hockey team was not only the venue for a hockey game, but a community event.  This was the 5th Annual Pink Out the Rink event.  The night was not about the hockey but rather bringing an awareness to the terrible disease of cancer in particular Breast Cancer awareness.  Obviously, a hockey game took place and the Warriors fueled by one of the largest crowds in attendance at the Community Center in many years with approximately 700 fans supporting the Warriors as they topped the Germantown Coop 7-2.

This is truly a community event.  “There is nothing like the hockey family in Waupun” according to Lisa Toutant-Peters.  Currently her son Ryan Panten is a Senior on the team but recalls a time when her family was supported by the Waupun Hockey Community when Ryan’s dad became a victim of cancer prior to the Pink Out event.  Everything about the evening is focused on helping to find a cure for cancer.  The Waupun Youth Hockey Association donated all of the gate to beneficiaries.  The Boys hockey team members sell Pink Out t-shirts with all of the profits going to the event.  This year almost 400 t-shirts were sold.  Parents put together raffle items with community business donations, baked goods, and the traditional hockey events of Chuck a Puck and 50/50 raffle go toward the event.

Traditionally, the event provides support to 3 different entities.  This year ⅓ of the profits go to the traditional Waupun Agnesian Hospital Breast Cancer Care department.  Another ⅓ of the profits this year went to the Waupun REACH program which offers support to students and families in financial need for basic items.  The final ⅓ goes to a traditional Waupun community member fighting against the terrible disease of cancer.  This year’s recipient was long time Waupun Administrative Assistant for the district Lin Huizenga who was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor last January.

Organizer of the event, Amy Van Galen, spends many weeks putting the entire evening together.  This year she spent many hours using the Waupun High School hockey Facebook page promoting the event.  Amy has been involved in the Pink Out the Rink from the start.  At that time, her son was a member of the high school team.  However, for the past 3 years since Brandon graduated, Amy has continued to accept the responsibility for this incredible community event volunteering and coordinating every aspect.  It is a true family affair as her husband Scott, long time announcer for the high school team, son Brandon Waupun hockey Alumni, and daughter Hannah a Sophomore at Waupun all are involved in the Pink Out setup and operation..

Although the final tally has yet to be determined, the impact is expected to be the largest to date.  The goal is to hit the $6,000 mark.

As for the hockey game, the Warriors clad in their Pink Out jerseys scored first on a power play at 9:41 from team leading and Badgerland conference second leading scorer, Senior  #10 Brady Beekman with assist to #16 Colin Holz.  Germantown came right back less than a minute later when #21 Hunter Leonhard with assist by #2 Zack Fountain was able to sneak one past Waupun Senior Goaltender #1 Austin Taylor.  Waupun was able to answer right back with the support of the huge home crowd with 3 more goals in the first period, 1 even strength and 2 short handed goals, to take a 4-1 lead into the locker room at the end of the first.  Goals were scored by Beekman, Holz, and #8 Cody Kast.  The Warriors never relinquished the lead the rest of the night.

Germantown came out right away in the second and scored 3:19 into the period an even strength goal by #3 Tony Koerner with assist by #47 Ryan Rouna closing the gap to 2 goals.  But that was it for the Ice Bears as Waupun once again took control and scored a minute later by Senior#14 Ryan Panten assisted by #12 Cam Beek and #8 Kast.  One more by #16 Holz with an assist by Senior #9 Jordan Foster.  Waupun made a goalie change at 8:33 in the second period putting in Sophomore #30 Caleb Sauer to get all of the Warriors involved in this fantastic event.  All of the Varsity members of the Waupun Warriors team who suited up were able to participate in the game.

Waupun scored again in the 3rd period with 8:53 on the clock as #8 Kast assisted by #14 Panten was able to put one past Germantown Goalie #1 Paul Perdzock.

A fantastic outcome for the 5th Annual Pink Out the Rink evening as Waupun was able to secure the win 7-2.