Saturday Jan.16 marked the 10th annual West Haven Icy Plunge for the Cure. More than 230 people braved the frigid water of Long Island Sound raising a reported $42,000 in support of breast cancer research.

Among those taking part in this year’s mid-winter swim were 17 young hockey players from the West Haven Youth Hockey Pee Wee B Travel Team. The catalyst behind this brave group of 11- and 12-year-olds was Hunter Cole.

For several years Cole had asked his parents, Bill and Jennifer, both long-time supporters of the event, if he could take the plunge; this year they finally relented and he received their permission. Hunter’s next step was to get as many of his hockey buddies as he could to join him. So after one early season practice he approached his teammates about taking the plunge with him. He didn’t have to ask twice; the team, players and coaches alike, responded with unanimous enthusiasm and immediately began their fundraising efforts.

Clad in their Icy Plunge team tee shirts, they gathered early behind the Savin Rock Conference Center. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and West Haven Mayor John Picard stopped by to congratulate and take photos with the team. Minutes later they dove into the icy water and collectively donated over $2,200 to the cause.

A tightly knit group of friends off the ice, the team is having a very successful year on the ice. Sporting an impressive won-lost record they recently finished first in the Yale Youth Hockey Holiday Tournament and returned from Marlboro, MA last weekend as Champions of the NYHL Challenge Cup. They are looking forward to an equally strong finish to the season.

Members of the team are Michael Annunziata, Joe Bepko, John Brunetti, Hunter Cole, Wyatt Condon, Kevin Coyle, Chris Durost, Justin Edwards, Donny Froehlich, Brian Kelly, Matt Kennedy, Dean Luedee, Jake Lynch, Jerry Maus, Kalan Morgillo, Tyler Paine, and Chris Woolsey. The coaches are Dave Coyle and Eric Wagner.