Arizona Coyotes to bring third annual 'Skatin' for Leighton' to Sun Devil Stadium
Leighton Accardo’s memory has continued to help other girls like her in Arizona.
Accardo passed at age nine from her long battle with cancer in 2020, but dedicated her life to sports, including hockey. Her love for the sport and deep connection with the team led to her being inducted into the Coyotes Ring of Honor in 2021.
Now in its third year, the “Skatin’ for Leighton” event will continue her memory and help other girls pursue their dreams in hockey. Led by President of the Arizona Kachinas and Coyotes radio color analyst Lyndsey Fry, the event is a big fundraiser for girls youth hockey in Arizona.
“This has been huge because hockey is already an expensive sport,” Fry said. “The challenge that the girls face is that because there’s only one girls hockey program in Arizona, they have to travel a lot and that increases the cost of girls hockey even more.”
Last year’s event at Phoenix Raceway helped raise $100,000 for the Leighton Accardo Memorial Scholarship Fund and helped “a ton of girls have the opportunity to play that they maybe wouldn’t have otherwise.”
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“I think the cool thing about this event is we don’t have a ton of moments like this to really unite the hockey community as a whole here in Arizona,” Fry said. “This is for girls hockey, but we want the whole hockey community to come out and support this.”
The Accardo family remains heavily involved in the event and skated the opening lap with Fry during last year’s event.
“The Accardos are awesome people. It’s amazing to see their strength and durability and just their passion to contribute to the things that Leighton loved,” Fry said. “The fact that they still want to be involved in this event and they want to make sure that Leighton’s memory is alive will bond us forever. I’m very thankful to have them in my life.”
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Moving the event to Sun Devil Stadium adds to the organization’s move to Tempe and provides a unique environment with the concourse and field level available for skaters and walkers.
The event will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday and is open for registration to fans six years of age or older to skate, walk, or run the concourse with a $49 fundraising minimum. General admission tickets are $20, which includes access to the activities on the field.
“Hockey is an incredible sport and I tell people all the time that everything good I’ve ever had in my life has come through hockey," Fry said. "To be able have this money to help other girls have this opportunity is why we do it.”
More:Community gathers at Phoenix Raceway as Coyotes host second annual 'Skatin' for Leighton'
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Coyotes to host third 'Skatin' for Leighton' at Sun Devil Stadium
