On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Quinnipiac University men’s hockey team will lose…their hair. Following the Bobcats’ annual Blue & Gold intrasquad scrimmage, coach Rand Pecknold and most of the team will shave their heads in front of the TD Banknorth Sports Center in Hamden, Conn. All proceeds from the event go to support medical research in the fight against children’s cancer.

Pecknold, who is a proponent of giving back to the community, said that “well over $21,000” has been raised and he anticipates raising close to $30,000.

“I’m thrilled to have already met an initial fundraising goal for Blades & Shaves,” Pecknold said. “I look forward to seeing how high we can reach with a few days left.”

Although it is not mandatory for players to shave their heads, Pecknold said that almost every player is on board.

“I’m also very proud of my student-athletes for their support and participation in battling this disease,” he said.

Furthermore, the whole coaching staff as well as sports information director Ken Sweeten will be shaving their heads.

The concept came about after a six year old boy on Pecknold's street was diagnosed with cancer. After being approached by the father to see if Pecknold could do something to raise awareness, the Blades & Shaves event was sparked.

“I thought it was great,” senior captain Dan Henningson said. “It’s just hair and it’s the least we can do.”

Henningson will kick off the event by shaving Pecknold’s head then local barbers and hairdressers who have volunteered their time will step in to do the rest.

Blades & Shaves is officially sanctioned by St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. The event, slated to start at 2:30 p.m., will be emceed by Deb Kaufman, a television sports reporter who covers the New York Islanders and New York Rangers for Fox Sports Net.