Former Boston Bruins stars skated onto DCU Center ice in Worcester on Saturday for a cause bigger than the scoreboard, squaring off against the Why Me All-Stars in a pregame exhibition ahead of the Railers' Fight Cancer Night. The charity matchup was built to raise money for Why Me & Sherry's House, a Worcester-based nonprofit that supports children and families navigating childhood cancer.
The exhibition was billed as the headline act of the evening, with organizers promoting it as a way to spotlight Bruins legends and local heroes while raising funds for Why Me, according to the Worcester Railers. Why Me describes itself on its website as a grassroots organization dedicated to providing love and support services to families with childhood cancer, per Why Me. The group listed the exhibition as kicking off at 3 p.m. at the DCU Center, with the Railers game to follow.
A Lineup of Bruins Royalty
The Bruins Alumni roster for Saturday's game included some serious NHL pedigree. Former Bruins Ken Linseman, Reggie Lemelin, Kenny Hodge, Joe Mullen and Bob Sweeney were scheduled to be on the ice, as reported by the Worcester Telegram. Mullen and Linseman were among the former Bruins scheduled to play, according to the Worcester Telegram.
Scott Young was also listed among the alumni associated with the event. A 2022 roster release from the Railers had previously noted that Mullen played 17 NHL seasons, including one with Boston, underscoring the kind of star power the charity game has attracted in years past.
Jerseys, Auctions and In-Game Tributes
Beyond the exhibition itself, the Railers built their entire Saturday schedule around the fight against childhood cancer. Players wore specialty Fight Cancer jerseys for the night, with all proceeds from the jersey auction going directly to Why Me & Sherry's House, the team said. The club also planned to recognize individuals who have battled or are currently battling cancer during the game itself.
The Railers have called Fight Cancer Night an annual event. A 2022 edition paired the Why Me All-Stars against Bruins Alumni as part of a partnership with Why Me and Sherry's House.
A Tangle Over Tip-Off Time
Why Me listed the Railers game as starting at 6 p.m., while the Railers and Worcester Telegram listed a 6:05 p.m. start at the DCU Center. Neither discrepancy affected the charity exhibition itself, which organizers had locked in for 3 p.m.
The exhibition raised funds for Why Me & Sherry's House. The game brought Bruins alumni to Worcester ice for a cause beyond hockey.
