Canton, NY – The SUNY Canton’s men’s hockey team in partnership with the Canton College Foundation is pleased to announce that members of the 1976 NJCAA National Championship team have announced a matching gift opportunity to help support the program. 

Jon Shellington ’76, Dick Layo ’76, and Dan Brown ’77 have pledged a matching gift of $7,600 in honor of their championship run in 1976 as the “76 National Champions Challenge.” The group will match dollar for dollar all funds raised up to $7,600 from March 30th until the end of Athletics Giving Week on April 16th. Currently, the men’s hockey program has had a total of 37 donations for a total of $4,800 raised. With this matching opportunity the men’s hockey program could potentially raise nearly $20,000. All proceeds go directly to the men’s hockey program to help them create a better student-athlete experience on and off the ice. 

“This is absolutely huge for our program and for our fundraising efforts during this giving week campaign,” Head Coach Alex Boak said. “I am so grateful to Jon, Dick and Dan for their generosity. I am thrilled to announce this challenge to the rest of our alumni base, friends, and family and ask all of them, if they can, to donate. This matching opportunity will help our program next year and for years to come. Our players will be absolutely floored when they hear this type of support is behind them and that our alumni base believes in them, even after a tough year navigating through COVID-19.”

Coach Boak held a Zoom call with Shellington, Layo, Brown and Coach Emeritus Terry Martin on Monday to officially announce the “76 National Champions Challenge.” 

Jon Shellington on the ’76 Challenge:

“I’m sure all of your guys’ playing experience at Canton was extremely memorable and I know it was for me. We pulled together the team of ’76 and put together a challenge for the rest of the hockey alumni and college community to match our $7,600. Coach Boak has worked tirelessly not just coaching and recruiting, but trying to fundraise and we’re proud to do our part.”

Dick Layo on the ’76 Challenge:

“Of course, the reason that I am in a financial position to be able to consider donating money is because of the Class of ’76 and Coach Martin. He taught us how to win and that was needed in ’76 and much more in my life later on. The Class of ’76 knows how to win and we are going to generate more money than all the other classes and I want to challenge you and your captains to reach out, get together, and give to this program and let’s make this thing a big, big win.”

Dan Brown on the ’76 Challenge:

“Thanks to Coach Martin and Canton ATC for the best two years of my life. I want to challenge my teammates and all the fellow Canadians to support the men’s hockey program. It’s time for us to step up and support the program and we will be counting on you guys no matter how large or how small. Reach out to your friends and past teammates and let’s see if we can raise some great revenue for the men’s program.” 

Terry Martin chimes in on the ’76 Challenge:

“I think about hockey every day. It was the best years of my life. We worked and worked extremely hard. We had nothing, and everyone else we played had everything.  But everybody bought into it. It was because we worked hard and loved to win. All those years and all those great young men and look what these guys have done in life, I am just so proud of you all. Let’s get together and help Alex. We have a great rink now, any time anyone wants to come down and visit please reach out and we will show you around the beautiful new facility and campus.”

To give toward this challenge along with helping the men’s hockey program during the Athletic department’s annual giving week please hit the donate now button. All donations starting today (March 30th) will be matched dollar for dollar by the championship team of ’76 up to $7,600. Make sure you select the men’s hockey team from the team selection box before donating!

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About SUNY Canton
SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in digital design, engineering technology, health, management and public service. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. As SUNY's leader in online education, SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 21 online degree programs. The college placed first in 14 categories in a SUNY-Wide Student Opinion Survey, most notably in career services, tutoring, library resources, and classroom facilities. The college's 15 traditional athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level as part of the North Atlantic Conference. SUNY Canton also features varsity eSports and cheerleading. For more information, visit www.canton.edu.
 

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