Owatonna High School basketball and hockey teams have announced cancer fundraising nights to help out local families. Boys' hockey will host 'Stick it to Cancer' Tuesday, January 30 to help Brian "Red" Wencl. Boys' basketball will have its 'Coaches Vs. Cancer' event Friday, February 2 to assist Jim Gleason.

The OHS boys' hockey team is raising money for one of their own. Wencl played Owatonna hockey. His son Tyler is a senior on the team now and his son Trase graduated in 2016. Brian will have prostate cancer surgery in February. T-shirt sales and proceeds from the 50-50 drawing on January 30 will help defray the costs for the procedure. Pre-sale of t-shirts will happen at home games on January 13 and January 18, with distribution at the game on January 22. The game on January 30 brings Northfield to town.

Cancer has touched Owatonna hockey in a number of ways recently. 2013 graduate Matt Ratzloff recently battled cancer. Longtime rink announcer Pete Kalan died from cancer early last year. OHS coach Josh Storm says he lost his father to cancer.

OHS boys' basketball will honor community ambassador Jim Gleason, who is battling brain cancer, and was forced to step down from his post as secretary of the Steele County Fair recently after holding the position for seven years. Gleason was a longtime salesman at KRFO radio before that and has enjoyed Owatonna High School sports and activities for many years. Gleason and his family issued a statement this month thanking the community for its support

T-shirt sales for basketball's 'Coaches Vs. Cancer' on February 2 will continue through January 18 with proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society.

 

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