ROCHESTER, NY-Megan Leigh Mackenzie who currently serves as USA Hockey Officiating Supervisor and Instructor focusing primarily on the development of younger officials who work women’s hockey has seen a lot of ice hockey games. She spent 34 years on the ice and is still working in and around the game. The 49-year-old Rochester resident has seen some tough battles during an on-ice career that afforded her the opportunity to work two International Ice Hockey Federation World Women’s Championship, the 2002 Olympics, hockey and several USA Hockey National Championships.
Little did MacKenzie know when she embarked on officiating as a 14-year-old that the teamwork she would learn on the ice with other officials would eventually help save her life. The veteran official who also worked both D-1 and D-3 NCAA women’s hockey was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2007. One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime according to the Susan B. Komen Foundation an organization active in funding breast cancer research.
The initial shock of course was devastating but according to MacKenzie after she spent a bit of time coming to grips with reality.
“I was struck by the parallels of the support and teamwork that made officials successful on the ice and how the same principles applied to the battle I was facing,” she said. “My battle for a cure and to be cancer free created a new type of required teamwork this time with family, friends and the medical community and physicians who helped me win my fight.”
She also drew on another source of support and inspiration the hockey community and especially other on-ice officials, who provided encouragement, support and who now are helping with another battle MacKenzie took on.
“I wanted to help others beat breast cancer by being personally involved in fund raising for research and education. The hockey community and especially my officiating peers have been a real source of support,” MacKenzie told PHN.
The hockey community support of cancer research has grown and now almost every professional team and many of the junior and college teams sponsor Pink in the Rink Nights during the season to raise funds and help educate the public and fight for a cure. As an example the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays fifth annual Pink in the Rink Night in late January drew 8,365 fans and raised $46,000 for research and education.
SC Stingrays Pink in The Rinl Night-photo courtesy SC Stingrays
After being declared cancer free two years ago MacKenzie felt compelled to take the passion she brought to the ice and brings in her role of officiating supervision and apply it to cancer research fund raising. To date her contacts in general and within the officiating and ice hockey communities has helped raise more than $100,000 for the James P Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY. “This medical center and its staff were a major part of my recovery so I am giving back” she said.
The affable referee is quick to deflect personal credit, “This is not about just one person’s effort but rather the incredible support others and especially other ice hockey officials have given the effort.”
One example is that most of the USA Hockey registered officials who are assigned to work the various Girls and Women’s National Tournaments have donated their game fees to cancer research as a show of support in the past.
MacKensie’s latest effort is once again drawing support from the officiating community.
Later this year in late July, she and nine men and women on-ice officials have scheduled a backpacking trip on a section of the Colorado Trail in the mountains near Leadville, CO.
Laura Rinde is one of the participants in the Colorado hike has been officiating for 15 years. She met MacKenzie working at her first National Tournament 9 years ago.
She currently works both as an active official and as an instructor for USA Hockey officiating development camps.
She told PHN, “ I have seen firsthand at several National tournaments the sacrifice and the willingness of people who wear stripes to help with this struggle. Although I am lucky enough so far to not have to personally fight cancer I hike to help the fight so that someday, others will not have to make the struggle.”
Each hiker has pledged to raise a minimum of $2,500 in sponsor pledges.
The hikers will carry between 35 and 50 pounds each over the 25 mile trail course.
MacKenzie joked “the linesmen will carry more than the referees as they are used to carrying the people with the armbands in most games anyway.”
Officials and others can get more information on the planned event at hiking at http://hikingcoloradoforacure.com/
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.