The familiar blue, green and white of the Vancouver Canucks are becoming an increasingly common sight as the NHL hockey team ventures further into the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, many local fans are not content with merely flying their team’s colours, and are using the Canucks’ popularity to help raise money for a worthy cause.
At Albion elementary in east Maple Ridge, students will be paying 25 cents each for the privilege of wearing their Canucks gear to class today.
The money raised will benefit the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, a pediatric palliative care centre in Vancouver that provides comfort and care to children living with progressive, life-threatening illnesses.
Albion principal Ron Lanzarotta said the school held a Canucks Day last week and was surprised by how many students showed up in their Canucks jerseys and T-shirts
“We had such a good turn out last week, we thought we would try and encourage donations and do some good,” he said.
The challenge has gone out to all the schools in the district, as well as to the district’s administrative staff.
Meanwhile, local bartender Cale Reining is also raising money for Canuck Place, by growing out a greasy hockey mullet not unlike that of his favourite Canuck, Tanner Glass. 
“It’s the 21st Century, so you can’t really rock a mullet, unless it means something,” explains Reining.
He calls his fundraiser Mullets With Meaning, and has already collected more than $800 towards his goal of raising $1,000 for Canuck Place.
“As long as people keep donating, I’ll keep growing it,” said Reining. “Luckily my manager is cool with it.”
Mullet donations
Donations can be made through the Mullets With Meaning Facebook group, or through Canuck Place.