By Krista Fog

Walled Lake Central’s Varsity Boys Hockey had an exciting and intense game against Walled Lake Western on Saturday, February 1 at 6:15 PM at Farmington Ice Area. Even though the boys were defeated 5-7, the game was also a charity event to help Team Joseph defeat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Team Joseph is a non-profit organization for Joseph Penrod, WLC History and Fitness teacher Jeff Penrod’s son. Joseph was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 6 years ago. This affects the muscles in one in every 3,500 boys, eventually attacking the heart and lungs.

“Team Joseph is non-profit. That means the money raised in fundraisers go straight to the organization, not the family,” explained Joseph’s sister and WLC senior Katie Penrod. “The organization then does research on Joseph’s disorder in universities such as University of Michigan.”

The charity game was an idea created by the hockey team. The tickets that spectators bought were $5 and went directly to Team Joseph. The game raised over $5,000.

“It’s amazing everything Central consistently does for Team Joseph,” said J. Penrod. “Our Central family continually supports the fight against Duchenne and it’s really humbling.”

Since Western defeated Central 3-2 earlier in the season, the boys were really looking for a win this game. Nevertheless, great goals scored; one by sophomore Ryan Kalis, two by senior captain Jerret Haas, and two by sophomore Cam Stevenson, one which was unassisted (he scored without passing by one of his teammates).

“I don’t think that we came to play in the first two periods,” said Haas. “Western is a good team, but we controlled the game after that totally.”

Currently, the team holds a season record of 5-13-1.