A MONTH OF MOUSTACHES

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – There aren’t many traditions in hockey more iconic than the playoff beard, which players and fans grow as a visual reminder of the length of a postseason run. Starting tomorrow, Grand Rapids Griffins players and staff will grow moustaches to serve as walking billboards for Movember, a month-long initiative to help raise vital awareness and funds for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. The Griffins’ efforts in Movember are sponsored locally by the Kings Room Barbershop.

Numerous hockey players and thousands of men around the world become “Mo Bros” by participating in Movember each November. Mo Bros try to “groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery” by raising funds for their efforts alongside the women in their lives, known as “Mo Sistas.” Participants start on Nov. 1 with clean-shaven faces to raise awareness by prompting conversations about the often ignored issue of men’s health.

Last season, a pair of Griffins – forward Mitch Callahan and defenseman Greg Amadio – participated in the moustache-growing battle and together raised $1,633. This season, nearly the entire Griffins roster and a dozen front office staffers will be participating.

Fans can donate at griffinshockey.com/movember either directly to a member of the Griffins’ front office staff or to the players through the “Donate to Team” button. Weekly moustache progress photos and updates will be posted to griffinshockey.com and the team’s social media channels. Additionally, can purchase a special ticket offer with proceeds benefitting the Movember organization by entering the promo code "movember" at griffinshockey.com/promocode when purchasing tickets to any November home game.

Funds raised in the U.S. support prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men, through programs run directly by Movember and its men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG. In 2011, over 854,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas joined the cause and raised $126.3 million. All funds support a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with Movember’s strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.