Throughout the 2007-08 season, leagues all across North America have held various nights and events in the name of cancer awareness and research.  From pink sticks to pink jerseys to pink ice, teams have tried in many ways to do their part to increase awareness nationwide of a disease that saw over 12 million new cases diagnosed in 2007.  The USHL is no exception when it comes to raising awareness.

Several USHL teams have "gone pink" for a night during the year, designing special jerseys that are colored pink and later auctioned off, with the proceeds going to cancer-related charities either locally or nationally.  But a USHL team that goes above and beyond when it comes to the fight against cancer is one that might surprise many.  It's the USHL officials.

Several USHL teams have "gone pink" for a night during the year, designing special jerseys that are colored pink and later auctioned off, with the proceeds going to cancer-related charities either locally or nationally.  But a USHL team that goes above and beyond when it comes to the fight against cancer is one that might surprise many.  It's the USHL officials.

Three years ago, the USHL officials for the first time wore a uniform that went away from the standard black and white stripes, one that replaced the white with the color pink.  On Friday, March 7 in all USHL buildings, the USHL officials will hold their third annual cancer night when they will once again don the pink and black sweaters that will be auctioned off for cancer-related charities.  It's not the first time this season that officials have worn pink, but it is their annual night where the special uniforms will appear in every building.

"This is one of my favorite things about this league and one of the reasons that I've been involved this long.  It's a great cause and the people of these communities have really gotten on board to do what they can to raise funds and help fight this disease," said USHL Director of Hockey Operations Scott Brand.  "I know that many other leagues are doing their part as well, and I'm glad that we can be included in that."

In addition to the monies raised from the auctioning of the special-edition uniforms, the officials working the six USHL games will donate their game salaries for the night to the cause.

"We went to the guys and asked them to wear the special sweaters for a period or two and then have them auctioned off in the buildings where they were working.  They had no problem with that at all because many, if not all of them have in some way been affected by cancer," Brand said.  "What really took me aback when we first did this was when they decided, on their own, that they would donate their game salaries as well from that night.  They didn't have to do that and I don't know a lot of people out there who would just give up a day's salary, but our guys did it and did it happily."

In addition to the officials working the six games, several officials not working that night have also agreed to donate game fees from future weekends.  During the first two seasons of the officials' cancer night, they have raised and donated over $5,000 to cancer-based charities.

"You see a lot of this in every league now, and when you talk about all the things that are being done a lot of people might say that we're all just trying to be trendy," Brand said.  "But the bottom line is that cancer is a serious thing.  We are all related to someone or know someone that is affected by it and that's why you see all of these leagues doing it.  We are all doing our part because we are all affected."