Plymouth Whalers, Corporate Friends Drop the Puck on Pink Out Week

Photo by Pete Krupsky - Pink Ice at Compuware Arena.

PLYMOUTH - It may be a Blue Monday for some people, but the Ontario Hockey League’s Plymouth Whalers are in the pink all week.

The Whalers are hosting the Kingston Frontenacs on Saturday at 7:05 pm in their seventh annual Pink Out! For Breast Cancer Awareness. The team will wear specially designed pink jerseys that will be auctioned off with the proceeds donated to Karmanos Cancer Institute.

The Whalers started this season’s Pink Out! on Monday morning by meeting at Indigo Salon, Spa & Boutique in Canton for a team-bonding event. For the seventh season, the Whalers wear pink hair all week.

Indigo Salon, Spa & Boutique owner Melissa Huetter and her staff rolled up their sleeves to put the Whalers in the proper spirit, er, color, for the week.

“We like anything that allows us to be part of the community,” said Huetter. “When you are public figure, like the Whalers are, we have to do our part to make sure that we assist to keep awareness toward a cause like breast cancer.”

Since opening in 2005, Indigo Salon, Spa & Boutique has earned an enviable track record of community service within the local area.

“We’re always down for anything that involves the community or anything that has to do with charitable contributions,” Huetter said. “We get involved with charities all year long, like Goodfellows, First Step and local school events.”

Veteran Plymouth defenseman Gianluca Curcuruto is contributing time and effort to his third Pink Out. He understands this week is a special time.

”This is definitely something that is unique and special,” Curcuruto said. “We do this for a really good cause. The boys have fun with it and I am sure (Plymouth Whalers owner) Peter Karmanos appreciates what we do.”

Hockey players in pink hair definitely get a reaction from anyone they meet.

“You definitely get the looks walking into a Starbucks or someplace like that,” Curcuruto said with a smile. “But everybody knows when they see the pink hair. They see we’re doing it for a good cause and the majority of the comments are positive. The fact that we’re raising money for a good cause and having a little fun at the same time is a win-win.”

This year’s Pink Out started a little earlier with an assist from one of the Whalers’ corporate partners.

Hines Park Lincoln general manager Ryan Kolb and his workers raised the funds to underwrite to cost of installing pink ice at Compuware Arena – a first for the event and the first for the arena since opening for business in 1996.

Compuware Arena workers made the pink ice on Sunday night and the Whalers practiced for the first time on it on Monday afternoon.

Kolb dyed his own hair pink last week after his co-workers raised enough money to complete the Pink Ice Project at Compuware Arena.

“Our goal was to raise $1000 and we raised $1600 in about the first ten minutes,” Kolb said. “We did a good job as a group, so I had to do my part. We’re happy to be part of a great cause. A lot of people have been affected by breast cancer in one way or another. We’re happy to be a part of raising awareness.”

Although Kolb as a salesman is used to being in the public eye, he is seeing a different side of people when they see him in pink hair.

“I think half of the people realize what I’m doing (pink hair) when they see the pink ribbon I wear,” Kolb said. “The other half don’t know what’s it’s all about so they ask and I have the opportunity to tell them. It been pretty well received. I’ve been approached by a few women in public that are breast cancer survivors. They thought it was pretty cool.”

Kolb sees similarities between his dealership and the Whalers.

“It’s a good partnership,” he said “We enjoy teaming up with the Whalers on projects like the pink out. Our dealership, in some ways, is in the same position as the Whalers – they’re going on an upward swing and it’s only going to get better. Just like us.”

The Whalers continue in the community on Tuesday, visiting Plymouth Whalers season ticket Rachael Hunter of WYCD 99.5 Detroit’s Country during her show from 6-9 am. The team will also visit Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit later in the day.

Plymouth practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:45-3:15 pm at Compuware Arena on the pink ice. Practices are open to the media and public.

Plymouth Whaler players will work as waiters on Wednesday from 5-7 pm at CJ’s Brewing Company, the restaurant located at Compuware Arena. Tips generated will be donated to Karmanos Cancer Institute.

The Whalers play – with pink hair – on Thursday in Erie against the top rated Erie Otters (7 pm, 88.1FM WSDP).