The 'Cac Gives Back: #GivingTuesday Links

It's #GivingTuesday, an annual day of giving back that dates all the way back to the ancient year 2012. In honor of this day, we are giving you some links to NESCAC hockey related articles, including some about how members of the 'Cac community are giving back.

Team Impact 

Lucien Hodell (#28) celebrates the 2014 Bowdoin 'Cac title

Team Impact is a charity that matches children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses with college athletic teams. The kids get to be a team member and attend games, wear a jersey and even sometimes have a press conference to announce their signing commitment. It's a great experience for the children and an equally great experience for the college athletes.

Several NESCAC men's hockey teams have Team Impact players, including Bowdoin, Colby, Conn College and Williams. Lucien Hodell, Bowdoin's Team Impact player, has been on hand for the last two NESAC titles for the Polar Bears, including on the road in Hartford this past March when Bowdoin upset Amherst in double OT. He can be seen in the picture on the right wearing his #28 jersey, which was given to him by former All-NESCAC defenseman Tim McGarry (D, '13).

If your team hasn't signed up, please consider doing so today. If you know of an eligible child that would like to try and find a suitable team (hockey or otherwise), you can sign up at the link as well.

Sign up for Team Impact here 

Middlebury Gives Back/NEHJ Feature 
At this Friday and Saturday's Middlebury hockey games against Amherst/Hamilton, the Panthers will be raising money and goods for Helping Overcome Poverty's Effects (H.O.P.E.). After Saturday's game against the Continentals, Middlebury will also have its annual "Skate with the Panthers" event.

Also over the weekend, New England Hockey Journal will be filming scenes from the game for a special on Middlebury hockey that will air on Comcast Sports New England. NEHJ did a show on Williams last year following the leadup to the Frozen Fenway game against Trinity.

For more on Hope Vermont, click here. For information from Middlebury for this weekend, click here.

Skate with a Polar Bear 
On Sunday, December 14,2014, the Bowdoin men's and women's hockey teams will host "Skate with the Polar Bears" from 12- 2 PM. Admission to the event will be one non-perishable food item to be donated to the local Brunswick food bank. To learn more, click here.

End of Movember 
With the turn of the calendar comes the end of Movember, a month where men grow out facial hair and raise money for men's health. This year, the 'Cac combined forces as all ten men's hockey teams had a movember official team page. The conference did a feature on the 'Cac's efforts last month. As of December 2,2014, the NESCAC teams have raised $25,121, with Amherst raising the most at $9,215 and Middlebury the least at $330.

If you have some good pictures of your team's 'staches, send them our way. If we get enough, we'll run a poll for the best 'stache in the 'Cac.

The MacDonalds 
The Morning Sentinel did a feature on Colby coach Blaise MacDonald and his son, Cam MacDonald, a freshman forward on his father's Mules squad. Talks about the recruiting process, the younger MacDonald's puck luck and his propensity for landing his father in the trainer's room.

Randy Whitehouse - Colby father and son building Mules' future together