The University of Maine women’s hockey team will try to break the Women’s Hockey East single-game attendance record on Saturday at Alfond Arena as part of a fundraising effort to support the Ashley Wade Foundation.
Wade, a former athlete whose dreams of playing Division I hockey were dashed by a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease at the age of 17, started the foundation in 2012 to enhance the lives of children suffering from chronic illnesses. She is still involved in the foundation.
The foundation makes and delivers care packages to children in hospitals or at their homes. It also holds family fun days in their Superstar Program and puts on hospital parties.
Saturday’s game against the University of Vermont starts at noon. There is no admission charge but donations will be accepted and given to the Ashley Wade Foundation.
The teams also play Sunday at 2 p.m.
UMaine head coach Richard Reichenbach said one of his players, junior center Cailey Hutchison, is a “real good friend of Ashley Wade” and has been “working diligently all fall organizing the event and creating a buzz about it.
“She’s been contacting people and promoting it,” added Reichenbach.
He said it is a “great cause, especially around the holidays when people are going through tough times.
“The extra support really helps,” said Reichenbach.
The Women’s Hockey East Association single-game attendance record of 2,136 was set on Feb. 3, 2017, when Vermont hosted New Hampshire.
UMaine (10-6-2 overall, 4-3-1 HE) is 5-1-2 in the last eight games. The Black Bears won only 10 games in each of the last three seasons.
Vermont (5-10-2, 3-6-1 HE) is 0-4-1 over its last five games.
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