Rockford IceHogs team president Mark Bernard announced on Wednesday that the American Hockey League club has signed Sydney Ives to be an honorary IceHog for a day. Ives was introduced at a press conference inside the IceHogs locker room.
Ives, 10, was joined by her family and friends, including her mother Tasha, father Dean, and brother Carson, at the press conference. A Rockford resident, Sydney is a life-long IceHogs fan.
Almost a year ago to date, Sydney was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Sydney has been undergoing treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., for the brain tumor classified as anaplastic astrocytoma (grade 3).
"It’s an honor for us as an organization to be able to fulfill a little girl’s wish and bring a smile to her face on this day,” said Bernard. “Sydney has had a lot of tough days and we are very happy to make this a good one for her and show her that the IceHogs will be with her every step of the way during her courageous battle.”
Sydney was presented with an IceHogs jersey with #19 and “Ivestrong” on the back, the slogan the family has adopted during Sydney’s fight against cancer. Also on hand at the press conference were IceHogs head coach Bill Peters and assistant coach Ted Dent.
IceHogs fans can attend and participate in a Bowl-A-Thon for Sydney on Saturday, June 6, at 7 p.m. The fundraiser will take place at Cherry Bowl in Cherry Valley and the cost is just $25 per couple along with a $3 shoe rental fee. The admission includes three games of Scotch Doubles, music, light show and a 50/50 raffle. Check-in starts at 6:30 p.m. and you can sign up by calling Amber at (815) 222-3291, Jen at (815) 621-8877 or Cherry Bowl at (815) 332-9595.
For more information on Sydney, visit www.ivestrong.com.
