WOBURN YOUTH HOCKEY SHOWS SUPPORT DURING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH—Spectators
at Woburn Youth Hockey games expect to see the city’s young players wearing Woburn’s traditional black and orange.  But during October, fans noticed a third color—suddenly there was a lot of pink on the ice!

The city was very active in its support of Breast Cancer Awareness throughout the month of October, and Woburn’s young hockey players found ways to show their support as well. Bright pink ‘Ws’ on helmets, hockey sticks wrapped in hot pink tape, and skates tied with pink
laces were a few of the ways the boys on Woburn’s Pee Wee 2 team showed their support. Jim McComiskey, the team’s head coach, is proud of the boys’ efforts. 

“This participation was totally motivated by the boys on the team and was 100% voluntary.  A few of the parents donated rolls of pink tape, and the coaches were supportive of any player that wanted to take part.  As is often the case on a team, once a few took the lead, the others joined in.”

Coach McComiskey cites the boys’ age and the increase in public awareness as two factors behind his players’ enthusiasm for adorning their equipment with pink, a color most 11-year-old boys consider to be for girls only.

“They recognize that cancer is a dangerous disease and that it affects a lot of people, some in their own families.  These boys are old enough to understand the seriousness of breast cancer but still young enough to want to
show that they care about their moms, aunts, and grandmothers.  I also think that seeing the NFL players
wearing pink on the football field every Sunday lessens the stigma of a boy wearing pink.  If the NFL tough guys can
wear pink, then it’s okay for an 11-year-old tough guy as well!!”

Coach McComiskey's PeeWee 2 team, and all Woburn Youth Hockey teams, play their home games at the Ned O'Brien Ice Rink next to the Joyce Middle School on Locust Street in Woburn.