RSDM Wins Annual Charity Hockey Game
Every year, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM) and New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) play hockey to support a charity organization. This year’s event took place on April 7 at RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House in Newark. RSDM won 6 to 5.
“It was a close game,” said Frank Cundiff, a member of the Class of 2025, who organized the event along with John Gattuso ’23 and Eric Smith ’23.
The first charity game between RSDM and NJMS was held in 2013 and supported the Hurricane Sandy victims. Since then, the games raised close to $85,000 in support of various causes, including pediatric cancer family support/research, the NJ Veterans Hospital, international dental surgery mission trips, and veterans.
This year, RSDM and NJMS supported The Valerie Fund, which provides individualized care to children at medical centers close to their homes. The teams, made up of students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the school, raised over $4,000.
The event began with Rutgers University Air Force ROTC Color Guard and National Guard presenting the flag for the national anthem. RSDM vice dean Kim Fenesy dropped the puck to launch the game. “It was just a great environment. You play where the New Jersey Devils play. So there's a lot of fun to be had, and it's really for a great cause so why not keep the tradition going?” said Cundiff.
Cundiff has played hockey all his life. He was a goalie in college and competed in D-III. Every December before the holidays, his college team would hold a teddy bear toss to collect toys for kids and engage their fans. He suggested doing the same at this event, where spectators tossed teddies from their seats, trying to get them as close to the center of the rink as possible to win a gift card. The team collected over 200 teddy bears that were donated to George Washington Carver Elementary School in Newark.
“I'll be involved the next two years until I graduate,” said Cundiff. “It's the gift that keeps on giving. It's fun for me and it's great for the community and the charities involved.”
