North Hills Varsity Hockey Skates Outdoors Friday against Moon

The North Hills High School varsity hockey team will play its only outdoor game of the season Friday at as part of a charity event to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. 

The game, scheduled for 6 p.m. against the Moon hockey club, is part of the UPMC/Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League High School Hockey Outdoor Charity Series. It's the fifth year of the series, which raises money for a number of organizations, but is the first time both the North Hills and Moon clubs have participated. 

"(It) helps out both communities and I think they're excited that this cause benefits people who are their age," said Leah Cillo, secretary of the Moon hockey club. "One-hundred percent of the proceeds go to juvenile diabetes research." 

Pre-sale tickets are $5. Tickets purchased at the game are $7. Moon and North Hills students this week have been selling T-shirts designed by Moon Area High School senior Josh Boini to benefit the cause. Pre-sale T-shirts are $12. They'll be $15 at the game. Pre-sale combo (ticket/T-shirt) prices are $15. The combo will be $20 at the game.

"Both teams are trying to raise as much (money for the cause) as possible," said North Hills coach Brandon Dudt-Mulzet. 

Skating outdoors is a treat for the hockey teams, which usually compete at indoor arenas such as the RMU Island Sports Center. The unpredictability of the weather is often a factor in how the game goes, Dudt-Mulzet said. 

"It can make for an interesting game," Dudt-Mulzet said. 

Thursday night's forecast is calling for 1 to 3 inches, with an additional 1 to 2 inches of snow accumulation possible throughout the day Friday. A high of 25 degrees and a low of around 17 degrees is predicted for Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. 

The North Hills team practiced at the North Park rink Sunday night, while Moon prepped for the outdoor game by skating at the Penguins Pond at SouthSide Works.

Families from both Moon and the North Hills affected by Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes will be present for the puck-dropping ceremony. 

North Hills has a 2-9 record in the league, with 10 more games left in the season. 

"There's growing pains," Dudt-Mulzetsaid, referring to the fact that the varsity team is back after a year off. But with the last two victories, "we've been competitive in the last few." 

He said the team still had a chance at making the playoffs. Of the 13 teams in the league, 10 will make it. North Hills currently is in the 11th spot. 

"Every game we play will be worth a little more," Dudt-Mulzet said.