Mudbugs set to Paint the Ice for cancer awareness

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — Most people do not have to look very far down the branches of their family tree to discover someone who has battled cancer.

For Shreveport Mudbugs head coach Jason “Soupy” Campbell, it’s his father, Jim.

Colorectal cancer took his father’s life five years ago.

“I think about him a lot,” says Campbell, who adds that his father, who lived in Canada, also had a wonderful love for hockey.

“He loved his hockey. I followed him around the rink during his men’s league days,” continues Campbell.

“I grew up being a rink rat.”

One way Coach Campbell and many others can pay tribute to a loved one who lost their life to cancer, or to honor someone who bravely stuck it to cancer, the Mudbugs have brought back Paint the Ice.

For eight hours starting a noon Wednesday, anyone can head to George’s Pond in Shreveport’s Hirsch Memorial Coliseum and have the name of someone special painted onto the ice.

A year ago, Campbell says, it was a very emotional time for many who paid the nominal $20 donation to participate.

“There were some tears shed last year during the eight hours, but also laughter and joy throughout the building.”

Campbell says taking a moment to honor loved ones can truly be comforting.

“It may just be that simple five minutes you may be out there, writing that name down, remembering the ones that have past and the ones that have beat it.”

The team will then skate on this specially painted ice Friday and Saturday nights during their next home series against New Mexico.

For a $30 donation, you also will receive a silver-level ticket to the cancer awareness game Friday.

The puck drops at 7:11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Copyright 2019 KSLA. All rights reserved.