Children selected by Golisano Children's will again join the Rochester Americans on the ice before games this season as the team's Honorary Captain of the Game program returns for a seventh year.
The program begins Nov. 13 when Rochester hosts the Laval Rocket at The Blue Cross Arena, according to the team's announcement. The partnership with University of Rochester Medicine Golisano Children's includes five scheduled games during the 2026-27 regular season.
Each honorary captain will stand alongside the Amerks' starting lineup during the national anthem before puck drop. Participants can also watch pregame warmups from the team bench or penalty box and watch the game with their families from a luxury suite.
The experience includes a postgame meeting with Amerks Hall of Famer Jody Gage and selected players. Each participant will receive a custom Amerks jersey and other team merchandise.
Golisano Children's will choose the honorary captains. A UR Medicine representative will contact families after selections are made.
Five games scheduled through March
After the Nov. 13 game against Laval, the program continues Dec. 18 against Toronto, Jan. 22 against Charlotte, Feb. 13 against Providence and March 20 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The first three dates fall on Fridays; the February and March games are Saturdays. The program runs on those predetermined dates during the regular season.
Jill Halterman, chair of pediatrics and physician-in-chief of Golisano Children's, said the experience gives children who spend considerable time in medical care a chance to be celebrated beyond their diagnoses. She said the partnership brings joy to patients and their families.
Golisano Children's employs more than 200 pediatric specialists across more than 40 specialties and serves more than 85,000 children and their families annually, according to the announcement. It is a referral center for seriously ill or injured children across the 17-county Finger Lakes region and beyond, with missions in patient care, medical education and research.
Amerks single-game tickets start at $10. Season-ticket memberships start at $22 per game, with full- and half-season options available. Ticket information is available at 585-454-5335 or amerks.com/memberships.
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