NCHC Movember Photo Gallery

Vote for the best Movember player moustache

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Fu Manchu. Handle Bar. Pencil. Super Mario. Dali. The Winnfield. You might see any number of these moustache varieties on National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) officials during the month of November. Officials throughout the conference are growing their facial hair for charity.

Each year the Movember Foundation leads a fundraising campaign to combat prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health problems and other men’s health issues by encouraging men around the world to grow their moustaches. To date, the Movember campaign has raised $559 million for research and health outcome programs. Joe Sullivan, a NCHC referee, is spearheading the second annual Movember campaign for the NCHC officials, and lip sweaters are in style this month.

Sullivan lacks the moustache-growing aptitude of Tom Selleck, but he organized the fundraising campaign because he wants NCHC officials to create awareness for mental health issues. This is Sullivan’s first time leading a Movember campaign, but he participated last year with the NCHC and previously as an official in the ECHL. Sullivan took the opportunity to organize the NCHC campaign at this year’s referee training camp in September.

Sullivan noted that mental health has been a hot topic in the hockey community since the 2011 death of Derek Boogard, a NHL enforcer who was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and concussions continue to be an issue in the sport.

“We want to build a campaign to impact men’s health issues, especially issues that are relevant to the hockey community,” said Sullivan.

The hockey community already embraces playoff beards, and Sullivan wanted to capitalize on the popularity of facial hair. The officials set a goal to raise $1,000 and Sullivan would like to see the campaign continue to grow each year, just like their facial hair. Sullivan has also mobilized the golf course he works at in St. Louis to participate in the campaign. All green fees from the month of November will go to the Movember campaign.

Fans wanting to support the NCHC officials’ Movember campaign can donate here.

While taking in a NCHC game at the rink, look out for NCHC linesman Paul Carnathan. Sullivan believes he has the best moustache in the league and Western Michigan’s Lawson Lunatics also took note, giving him a razzing Nov. 14-15 when he worked games in Kalamazoo. The officials and players often complement each other on their lip sweaters during games as well.

“Carnathan has a pretty mean duster. It’s a full Fu Manchu,” Sullivan noted.

As far as growing his own moustache, Sullivan might be better sticking with leading his Movember campaign.

 “I’ve been razzed about it. Mine needs some work,” he joked. “I usually stay clean-shaven.”

Last year, teams in the conference submitted a player moustache for a fan vote, and St. Cloud State’s Joey Benik won the ‘stache contest in a landslide. Benik and his flow will be a favorite to repeat as champions this season. To vote in this year's Movember player poll, click here. 

Whether you can grow a duster worthy of envy is irrelevant. Everyone can help change the face of men’s health this and every Movember going forward by adding some hair to their own face or donating to the cause.

--#NCHCHockey--