Feb. 20, 2014
By Michael Renahan, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - When the Penn State men's hockey team walked into Pegula Ice Arena their eyes lit up as they took in the spectacle that was the Nittany Lions' new home. But it is nameplate on a locker that reminds the Nittany Lions of how great an opportunity they have on and off the ice.
Pegula Ice Arena is state-of-the-art arena with something for everyone. Top-of-the-line equipment for top-of-the-line entertainment: a perfect match.
But, after seeing the steep student section, the community rink, they entered their brand new locker room. Inside their locker room, right between forwards Eric Scheid and Zach Saar they found a locker that belonged to a special Nittany Lion.
You won't find him on the roster and you won't find him on the box score after the games. Nor will you see him chasing down a defender into the corner for a puck. Not yet, at least, because he is a different kind of asset to Guy Gadowsky's team.
He's a player that brings something more unique to the Penn State roster.
The locker belongs to the men's hockey team's THON family and six-year-old Colton Buckley. A top-of-the-line kid working with a top-of-the-line team: a perfect match.
"He [Colton] is such a cool kid and he is so funny," Gadowsky said. "His family is great and it's really nice for us to be able to be a part of his journey. The guys really look forward to seeing him. They really get what he is going through and they love seeing him."
Colton might not suit up each night for the Blue and White, but he means just as much to the people in Pegula Ice Arena as anyone else on the roster. This weekend, while the team is in Ann Arbor taking on Michigan, Colton is on the lineup card for THON, Penn State's IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
He making the trek from Reading, Pa. to make his second straight appearance at the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.
"He's a great kid and he adds something special to our team," said Gadowsky. "Personally, the thing I was most impressed with at Penn State and what attracted to at Penn State was the passion of this university that people have for this university.
"I didn't understand exactly why and I think that there are a number of reasons, but I got a chance to walk into the Bryce Jordan center during THON last year and that stands out as one of the major reasons. Talk about the hair standing up on your arms. The feeling you get is just so amazing. I personally think THON is responsible for a lot of the extreme passion everyone has at Penn State University."
THON is a yearlong effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $101 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.
One of those kids is Colton, a six-year-old that is in the midst of a battle with cancer.
It's a fight that has the admiration of Nittany Lions everywhere, including Colton's locker room neighbor, Scheid.
"It's awesome to have Colton around," Scheid said. "Getting to meet him earlier this year was incredible. He is such a strong kid and even though he has been battling cancer, he always has a smile on his face, which I think is awesome. For a kid to go through that much and to always be able to put a smile on and have so much fun is just awesome to see. I `m just really glad I get to sit next to his stall in the locker room."
The Nittany Lions won't be at THON this weekend; they have a matchup against No. 10 Michigan in Ann Arbor. Although they might be 390 miles away, they will be there in spirit.
Colton and his fight have had a tremendous impact on the team this season. A team that is battling day in and day out to get better watches by as Colton does the same. It's brought Gadowsky's squad and their THON family closer and closer together.
"Colton is an inspiration and such an awesome kid," senior Michael McDonagh said. "Every time he is here he has a huge smile on his face. He's just so joyful. And with his condition, to get up and do that is really inspiring for us. I think we all kind of rally around him at certain times, especially when he is here. We want to get a win for him and just be with him. He's just a light at the end of the tunnel for us."
Although the Nittany Lions would prefer to be by his side at THON, they will still be thinking of Colton as they look for another win against the Wolverines. Colton is just a month away from taking his first few skating lessons, and owes his love for hockey to his Dad and sister.
"I'm really proud to be a part of it in the way that we can," Gadowsky said.