Men's Ice Hockey | February 12, 2017

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team welcomes National Collegiate Hockey Conference rivals North Dakota next weekend, with Saturday being the annual Ice Duchenne benefit game.

Ice Duchenne was started back in 2012 after Louie Facca, son of former WMU associate head coach Rob Facca, was diagnosed with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy in 2011. Duchenne's is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood, affecting approximately one in 3,500 boys worldwide. The disease results in the degeneration of muscle and affects the legs, heart, lungs and brain. While there is no cure, aggressive therapy and treatments have helped Louie and many boys around the world slow the effect of the disease.

Once again, the Broncos are paired up with Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to end Duchenne and make a difference in the life of a very special young boy and 24,000 other young boys in the United States living with DMD.

In addition to cash donations, WMU will be auctioning off an autographed Luke Witkowski Tampa Bay Lightning jersey, an autographed Matt Tennyson Carolina Hurricanes jersey and a three-day trip to the 2017 Frozen Four in Chicago. That package includes two tickets to the Frozen Four and three nights at the Chicago Marriott downtown.

All benefits will go to PPMD and fans can make online donations at www.iceduchenne.org.