Gems this week
Today: Rapid City, 7 p.m., Hara Arena (Gems Rally Towel Giveaway, first 500 fans/CHL Jersey Auction)
Saturday: Evansville, 7 p.m., Hara Arena (Jam it for Jimmy Night/Youth Jersey Giveaway, first 1,000 kids 12 and under)
Tuesday: Rapid City, 6:30 p.m., Hara Arena (Trading Card Set No. 2 Giveaway)
TROTWOOD — Tina Jenks called it her “worst nightmare.” That’s how the Tipp City resident described the sobering news she received Oct. 31 when her only child, Jimmy, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
But adversity can bring clarity and Tina has come to realize a couple things. One is that her son, a senior at Tippecanoe High School, is a warrior.
“He’s amazing,” said the admiring mother, noting that Jimmy is undergoing chemotherapy and has radiation treatments scheduled for next month. “He hasn’t complained. I’m sure he’s scared, but he’s just pushed through.”
Another thing that Tina knows is that people care, including the Dayton Gems. A friend of the family approached the Gems’ front office staff for help and the idea for Jam it for Jimmy Night (Saturday at 7 p.m. when Dayton hosts Evansville) was born.
The Gems want to make a big donation to the Jenks family — $1 for every ticket sold and an additional $2,000 if Hara Arena sells out.
“We’re just really grateful,” said Tina. “We were shocked initially. So many people want to support us through this journey.”
She said the section designated for the Jenks contingent should be busy as some friends she hasn’t seen in 20 years are planning to show up.
According to Gems president Joe Greene, requests have been picking up throughout the week. Tickets remain, but there’s a good buzz about the Jam it for Jimmy Night, which overlaps with the popular Youth Jersey Giveaway.
“We hope the community steps up,” said Greene. “When I met with Tina, she was teary-eyed. She was overwhelmed by the support.
“This really brings the community together. That’s what the Dayton Gems are all about.”
The struggling Gems shouldn’t have a problem with motivation. The Saturday crowd will be big, but more importantly a group of men playing a game for a living should draw inspiration from a kid who wants nothing more than to rejoin his friends at school, finish out his senior year so he can graduate and move on to college.
For Tina Jenks and her son, many lessons have been learned from a fight that began as a nightmare.
“There’s nothing left to be afraid of,” she said. “You have to treasure every second and not take anything for granted.
“He’s my life.”
Tough opponents
A trying season highlighted by injuries and inconsistency doesn’t get any easier for the Gems. Dayton hosts the 20-13-2 Rapid City Rush tonight and Tuesday, while also facing the powerhouse IceMen (23-9-4) Saturday.
The Gems split shutout results in Rapid City last weekend and desperately want to avenge a 6-0 thrashing.
“We had a great game plan,” head coach Brian Gratz said of the 3-0 win by Dayton one night before the rails came off. “The next day, we got a few bad bounces and we were suddenly in quicksand.”
As for Evansville, the last time the Icemen were in town, Dayton held a late 1-0 lead before allowing four straight goals in the final 11 minutes of the third period en route to a demoralizing loss.
“They’re one of the best teams in the league,” said Gratz. “We should have found a way to beat them that last game.”
Goalie swap
The Gems shipped rookie goaltender Bryan Hogan to the Wichita Thunder earlier this week in exchange for future considerations. Hogan started out hot but struggled the past couple months, posting a 7-11-5 record with a 3.50 goals against average and an .899 save percentage in 23 total appearances.
Mark Sibbald, 27, from Ridgeway, Ontario, was acquired from the Allen Americans in time for Dayton’s Thursday night game in Evansville.
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