The Icenter in Salem, N.H., will be hosting more than a hockey game this Saturday. The Lancer hockey team will go head-to-head with the Windham High School hockey team in the “White Out for Warriors” game that will be raising money for the Building Dreams for Marines (BDFM) fund. 

This local charity works to provide housing accommodations to veterans with mobility challenges by modifying their homes and means of transportation. Windham has been hosting this game to raise money for BDFM for a few years now, and they invited the Lancers to be their opponent for the game this year. 

Head coach of the Lancers, Mike Bears, was “happy” to be invited to be a part of this event as it allowed the team to “get involved in the planning and fundraising process.”

“Both Windham and Londonderry have been looking at ways to raise money for Building  Dreams for Marines for months now and have done a great job garnering support,” Bears said. 

With Bears having a personal connection to this organization, he jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this event.

“I have numerous friends and family members who are veterans,” Bears said. “I am always thrilled to be able to help out or be involved with an organization that is helping the veteran community.”

Along with Bears, the rest of the Lancer team each have their own personal connection to this charity and they are prepared to pay tribute to a veteran in their life during the game.

Each player will be honoring an active duty service member or veteran that is special to them by wearing a specialty jersey with the last name of the veteran on it. Bears knows that this game will “mean a lot more to the players” from both teams compared to the other games the teams have played this season.

“They’ll be proud to be playing for their service member or veteran,” Bears said. “Each of them has done a small write up detailing who the veteran they chose is, and what they mean to them, and I have been touched by every one of their stories.”

Senior and Lancer team member Matt Boyon has been feeling the anticipation for this game, and describes the feeling as “unmatched.” 

“This is more than a sporting event,” Boyon said. “We get the privilege of bringing our community together to support a life-changing cause.”

Boyon said he thinks very highly of this organization and knows that the rest of the players and himself “won’t want to disappoint.”

“Games like this are once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” Boyon said. “Everyone in the Lancer locker room is looking ahead to play for something bigger than ourselves.” 

As well as Bears, senior and Lancer team member Jayden Hamilton has a personal connection to this charity. He will be honoring and playing for his grandfather who served in the Vietnam War for a number of years. 

“It definitely means a lot to me that I can play for him knowing that he risked his life for Americans during that time,” Hamilton said. 

Along with Boyon, Hamilton believes this game “means more than just an ordinary hockey game” to him and everyone involved. 

“To the players, it will be a chance to show their gratitude to all the veterans who fought for us and our country,” Hamilton said. 

The game will be held this Saturday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Icenter in Salem, N.H. Patrons are encouraged to wear white to show their support for the cause and veterans.

A specialty white-out t-shirt has been designed and has been sold during lunches at both schools. Shirts can also be purchased online or before the game at the door of the event. Ticket admission and donations taken at the door will be put towards the charity. 

As well as the donations and t-shirt sales, there will be raffles with prizes such as restaurant gift cards, gift certificates for golf, yeti coolers, and more. There also be other activities such as a “chuck a duck event” and a 50/50 raffle. All the proceeds will go towards BDFM. 

The “White Out for Warriors” committee extends invitations to all local service members and veterans to attend the game. They will be able to attend the game free of charge as will any first responders (fire, police, EMT, etc.).

“[The committee and myself] want to get as many people there as possible and try to sell out the rink,” committee member Jessica Beaulieu said.

Beaulieu as well as Bears encourages everyone in the community to attend this event to “show their support” and because it “should be a really fun hockey game between two good teams.”

“BDFM is a great organization making a huge difference in disabled veterans’ lives,” Bears said. “These kids love playing in front of their community members and I know it means a lot to them to see the support.”

Boyon believes that “playing for a cause doesn’t get more meaningful than this game,” and affirms Bears’ encouragement to those in the community.

“With your support, you are helping the service members that once helped you,” Boyon said.