Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Hockey to Raise Funds and Awareness for Children's Cancer
February 27, 2008 | Ice Hockey
Feb. 27, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The BGSU Hockey team plays host to the defending national champion and #6-ranked Michigan State Spartans this Saturday, March 1 for Senior Night 2008, with the puck scheduled to drop at 7:35pm at the BGSU Ice Arena. The game is the finale of "Super Saturday" on the Bowling Green campus, a tripleheader that also features home games for both the men's & women's basketball teams earlier in the day.
While the game may prove to be crucial in the final 2007-08 CCHA Standings as BGSU battles for seeding position that will help determine their 2008 CCHA Playoff First Round opponent, a different battle will also be on the minds of the Falcon hockey players and coaches when they take the ice.
Falcon hockey alum Ty Eigner (1988-93) is a proud father of three children including a son, 5-year old Peter. Peter is your typical fun-loving child in a lot of ways. He loves spending time with his little sisters Ellie and Kate, is a big fan of the Minnesota Twins - especially his favorite player, Joe Mauer - and as you might expect given his dad's background, is a hockey fanatic, and quite the little player. What sets Peter apart from most other youngsters his age is a battle he fights on a daily basis against neuroblastoma cancer. Peter was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, most commonly found in male infants under the age of 5, on August 17, 2006.
"Stories like Peter's really put life in perspective," said BGSU Hockey Assistant Coach Doug Schueller.
To support the Eigner family's ongoing battle against Peter's cancer, Schueller has organized an effort with the entire BGSU hockey family to come together throughout this Saturday's tripleheader of home games on the Bowling Green campus.
A silent auction featuring items donated by Falcon hockey alums and supporters will take place at all three events, culminating with the hockey game Saturday evening. Some of the items already donated include Cleveland Cavaliers and Lake Erie Monsters club seats (courtesy of the Cavs), 2008 CCHA Championship ticket and hotel packages provided by the CCHA, Cleveland Indians tickets provided by David Gassman of CC Electro, and various autographed memorabilia donated by Falcon hockey alums and the 2007-08 BGSU Hockey team. All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the Peter Eigner Benefit Fund to support the youngster's ongoing treatment, as will a portion of the evening's Falcon Club Chuck-A-Puck 50-50 funds, and fans will also be able to make monetary donations in person.
"Situations like this really show what it means to be part of the Bowling Green family," said Schueller. "It makes me very proud to be a Falcon when I see the responses of so many alumni and community members stepping up to help a past Falcon and his family going through a tough time."
Peter and his family are traveling to Bowling Green and will be in attendance at the BGSU-Michigan State hockey game this Saturday, and appropriately, just prior to the opening faceoff, Peter will be smiling and doing something he loves...dropping the ceremonial first puck on the ice.
To learn more about Peter Eigner and the Peter Eigner Benefit Fund, go online to www.petereigner.com.
The Children's Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation (CNCF) is also in existence to support the needs of children and their families fighting neuroblastoma, and to raise funds for research of the disease. To learn more about the CNCF, go online to www.cncf-childcancer.org.
Tickets are still available for all three events of the "Super Saturday" tripleheader (Men's Basketball vs. Kent State...12:30pm, Women's Basketball vs. Buffalo...4pm, Hockey vs. #6 Michigan State...7:35pm) online at BGSUFALCONS.COM or by calling 877-BGSU TICKET.
