First Annual Sigma Freeze Success
Sigma Pi member Jordan Hunter, center, celebrates after the team scores at the Sigma Freeze Ice Hockey game on Feb. 21, 2015 at the Mount Pleasant Ice Arena.
Central Michigan University’s Greek community put its unity on display Saturday night at the Mount Pleasant Ice Arena to support two well-known CMU fraternities as they duked it out on the ice.
The first annual Sigma Freeze hockey game packed the rink with members from Sigma Chi, Sigma Pi, sororities and alumni all chanting and cheering for their fraternity's team.
Sigma Chi Fundraising Chair, Ryan Holder, who played in the game, said the game was a great way to get Greeks excited about charity and thanked the brothers of Sigma Pi for their involvement.
“This is a great event for a great charity,” Holder said. “The guys are having fun and we are doing our part to help a great charity, the Huntsman Cancer Institute, fight cancer."
According to Sigma Chi President Tyler Grinblatt, the Huntsman Cancer Institute is a leading patient care institute in Utah and the world.
"The whole goal is to raise money and help with cancer research so we can be the last generation where a family member is affected by cancer," Grinblatt said.
Sigma Chi took the lead early in the game, scoring their first goal at 5:40 in the first period. Two more goals came later in the first period at 4:00 and another with 28.2 seconds remaining.
Holder said before the start of the second period that he was happy with his team’s performance and expected the victory.
Holder’s prediction held true as Sigma Chi added on one more goal early in the second at 11:27, making the score a lopsided 4 to 0 in favor of Sigma Chi.
Despite the lopsided score, Sigma Pi member and Greenville freshman Austin Heron said to not count the Sigma Pi squad out too soon.
“The Sigma Chi team is good. They had a lot of guys who played in high school or juniors, but (Sigma Pi) is tough—we have the heart,” Heron said. “I’m expecting a comeback.”
Just as Heron said the word “comeback”, the Sigma Pi team finally broke the shutout and found the back of the net at 6:35 in the second period making the score 4 to 1.
“It’s been some years since high school,” said a winded Kirk Smith, Sigma Pi player and philanthropy chair.
In spite of the score, Smith focused on the reason for the game.
“Everyone is affected by cancer. I don’t care who you are, everyone in some way has been or will be affected by cancer and this game has been a fun way to support that cause,” Smith said.
Sigma Pi made the game interesting in the third period scoring two more goals coming within one goal of tying the game, however Sigma Chi was able to with stand the late on slot and secured the first ever Sigma Freeze victory, 4 to 3.
Sigma Chi alumnus Dan Blatt, father of current Sigma Chi member Gordon Blatt, donated $500 to the fraternity's cause.
"We (Sigma Chi) have a mission of working together and giving back," Blatt said.
Holder said Sigma Chi will potentially open Sigma Freeze up to all fraternities and have a fraternity tournament in the years to come.
