18,836. It’s a big number. It’s also just a number. Put a dollar symbol in front of it and it becomes a lot more.
It’s the amount of money raised by the Gillette Wild Junior Hockey Team for three different local causes. Through three different silent jersey auctions throughout this season, people in Gillette have shown their support. It all started in late October with the “Pink in the Rink” weekend in which the players adorned themselves in pink jerseys that benefited the local Heptner Cancer Center. Then in late November, the Wild raised over $6,200 to benefit the local “Bricks for Vets” by, again, wearing a special Red, White, and Blue themed jersey during their “Military Appreciation Weekend.” Just two weeks later, the Wild played “Dress Up” once again in their hideously awesome “Ugly Christmas Sweaters” for the first ever “A Very Wild Christmas.” These jerseys hit the community by storm as people lined up at the silent auction table to get a glimpse at them. Once again, a local community project benefited. $6,200 was raised for the Gillette Chapter of Young Life.
All of this success would not have been possible if it wasn’t for their wonderful sponsors. Campco Federal Credit Union, Gillette Physical Therapy, Powder River Orthopedic and Spine, and Thunder Basin Ford each had their hand in the success of these great causes.
But they are not done, two remain. The Wild will be having a “Wild for the Cure” orange themed jerseys to benefit local housing mom Cydni Burton’s fight with Leukemia on January 25. Lastly, the Wild will finish the season with the 3rd installment of “Freeze Out Cancer” benefiting the local Relay for Life on February 15.