Pardon the pun, but November can be a hairy month in the hockey business.
Players get traded or suspended, coaches get fired, line brawls break out, spectacular goals are scored, guys get a shaving cream pie - all kinds of high-jinks.
November is also a time of serious business, as hockey players at all levels of the game are growing mustaches in support of men's health. Known as the Movember movement, the Canadian Hockey League raised $175,583 last season among member teams.
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The Plymouth Whalers have been affected as much as any team in recent years.
Whalers alum Michael Whaley (now attending the University of Western Ontario) played for the Whalers while his father, David, lost a long battle with cancer and passed away. The entire Whalers team supported Whaley and mourned his father's death. Showing respectful solidarity, the entire Plymouth team attended the Mr. Whaley's funeral.
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Mindful of that, Plymouth captain Nick Malysa had led the Whalers Movember inititative over the past few years and - along with veterans Carter Sandlak, Ryan Hartman, Gianluca Curcuruto and the rest of the team - is encouraging men of all ages to be examined and to donate to the Whalers Movember Pledge Drive.
A donation of any amount is encouraged.
The mustaches grown by the players are a silent-but-visible reminder of support, no matter how good or bad they may look.
"The mustaches are grown to raise awareness about prostate cancer and men's health in general," said Malysa. "This year, a lot of the guys are growing mustaches and we'd like to see everyone else do the same, too."
AUDIO - Listen to Malysa speak about the Whalers' Movember initiative.
Whaler fans know that Malysa is one of the premier shot-blockers in the OHL. Sandlak, Hartman and Curcuruto are part of a Plymouth penalty killing unit that is currently ranked second in the OHL.
The Plymouth penalty killers go into each assignment with a plan and have enjoyed success this season in shutting down power plays.
Likewise, the Whalers are encouraging everyone to have a plan when it comes to men's health, with regular examinations or checkups as needed.
