The men’s ice hockey team will host its second annual mental health awareness night at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 at the St. George’s School hockey rink during a home game against the University of New England. Proceeds will again be donated to Newport Mental Health; last year’s event raised $6,500.

The event began last year to recognize the widespread mental health challenges in the community, but particularly among younger generations. Some team members had experienced depression and anxiety themselves and had witnessed mental illness and suicides among friends. They wanted to bring the discussion of mental health out in the open to help bridge the gap.

Admission is free for Salve Regina students and $5 for general admission. There will also be raffle items and prize baskets from local businesses and donors. Monies raised from the entry fee and raffles, along with the sale of Seahawks’ hockey jerseys, will benefit Newport Mental Health, a community mental health center providing behavioral health services regardless of income level or insurance.

There will also be a shuttle available from campus to the game. The shuttle will depart from in front of the Rodgers Recreation Center at 6 and 6:30 p.m., and return from the rink at 9 and 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door or online at linktr.ee/newportmentalhealth.

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Salve Regina students, faculty, staff, alumni, family and friends came together for student-athletes this fall during the Seahawks Take Flight 2022 campaign, which happened during the month of October. This fundraising campaign raised $118,250, with a total of 785 donations, five challenge gifts and 155 volunteers. With record setting statistics, Salve Regina University Athletics will be in a great place moving forward—and several coaches have stories to share about how this campaign impacted their teams.

Preparation and growth with baseball

“What’s great about Seahawks Take Flight is seeing each team compete against one another to raise money,” said Eric Cirella ’05, head coach for baseball. “I was really amazed at how well the teams did this year. They do well every year, but teams with smaller rosters were able to really stand out … which shows leadership.”

Cirella pointed out that this year, the campaign carries a little more weight as Salve Regina University Athletics moves towards the transition into the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). Funds raised will help baseball, as well as Salve Regina’s other 20 varsity sports, as they prepare for new competition

Baseball has big projects in the works to improve their program. With most of these initiatives in the early stages, Cirella knows that success from Seahawks Take Flight can really drive the outcome.

“Every dollar was meaningful,” said Cirella.

Enhancing student-athlete experience in field hockey, lacrosse

The experience of being a student-athlete is a key focus for Jennifer Foster, head coach of Salve Regina’s field hockey team. Foster likes to use the campaign funds to bring in guest speakers, update and improve equipment, and provide team building.

“Above all, we just want to be able to keep adding to the experience for our players,” said Foster.

Field hockey, like baseball, wishes to pursue bigger initiatives with the help of future fundraising and campaigning.

Patrick Cooney, head coach of the men’s lacrosse team, praises the ease and success of online campaigning through Seahawks Take Flight. The ability for student-athletes to share through social media and advocate for their teams makes it easy to spread the word as far as possible.

“These online campaigns are a great way to include all Seahawk lacrosse family members,” Cooney said. “It’s a way they can participate from afar and support the ones they love.”

Cooney plans to use the funds to provide premier equipment and lacrosse sticks for his players.

Creating lasting memories with women’s basketball

This winter, the women’s basketball team will be traveling to Las Vegas for a tournament. The funds from Seahwaks Take Flight will help relieve much of the burden for travel expenses.

“Women’s basketball has had a lot of success,” Cori Hughes, head coach for women’s basketball. “Even with the teams I’ve had that have gone to the NCAA tournament, the long-distance trips are still the most memorable experiences the alumni talk about, and it’s important to keep providing that experience for athletes.”

Traveling gives teams the opportunity to play against strong competition aside from what they normally see in the regular season. They can improve their game while building lasting relationships through team bonding as athletes travel and explore new places together.

The importance of alumni support

Cirella, Cooney, Hughes and Foster all spoke to the importance of alumni support. Cirella is an alumnus himself with the class of 2005, and the team is close to his heart as he took over the head coaching position from his father in 2013 after 14 seasons.

“The alumni have done it all, they have left their blood sweat and tears on the field, and they give back because of how amazing their experience was,” noted Cirella. As a CCC champion in his senior season, he understands this firsthand.

Cooney speaks to the importance of active alumni support for positive team culture and success.

“I think it’s important for all teams, not just men’s lacrosse, to have alumni actively involved,” Cooney said. “The support from alumni bolsters the student experience as well as recruiting, while fostering a total team and family atmosphere.”

The Salve Regina coaches all expressed gratefulness for the support of alumni, faculty, staff, family and friends during the Seahawks Take Flight.

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