To raise awareness and funds for the Canadian Cancer Society, the AC Avalanche U17 AAA team is holding its first-ever Pink in the Rink Game this Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Head coach Mason MacLeod said cancer has touched the families of at least three of their coaches and some families of their players.

"We thought what better way to raise money than as part of a hockey game? We're going to have pink jerseys and then we're going to be doing a puck toss to raise some more money there. We've got Hockey Fights Cancer "I Fight For" Signs that we'll have all the kids fill out and then we'll have them for anyone who comes to the game to fill out."

The puck toss is being held during the first intermission.

MacLeod says he will dedicate his I Fight For Sign to his mom, who is in her second battle with cancer.

"A lot of the NHL teams do it and they have their players fill out if they're fighting for "here" or specific people. I know for myself, my mom is the number one person so that's who I will be putting on mine. Then we'll have all the kids essentially holding them for whomever they're fighting for."

This is the first season for the Avs since it was switched to a 17U AAA team from 15U AAA.

They are three games into their regular season with a 2-1 record. Last weekend they finished third in the round-robin of an Abbotsford tournament and lost out in a 3-2 quarterfinal game.

"The kids are really starting to buy in already. We're going to have to win those close games, but I think we have the group. We really like the group we have and we think we're going to be successful being able to do."

The Avs play the Red Deer North Star Chiefs on Saturday.