Deer Lakes Hockey Club holds event to raise awareness about suicide

Maura Rupprecht was never one for the spotlight.

But she would be glad to know her death might just help save a life, her mother believes.

Maura was a Deer Lakes High School sophomore who died by suicide in March. She was 16.

“I really think that she would be glad that we’re doing something to help,” Molly Rupprecht said. “I’m hoping what the kids learn they can take with them (for) the rest of their lives. Maybe they can identify somebody who’s struggling and look a little closer. Because our eyes have been opened.

”We didn’t talk about this. We didn’t think about this. And now we do all the time.”

On Sunday, between 300 and 500 people gathered at the Frozen Pond Arena in Middlesex Township for the inaugural Maura C. Rupprecht Alumni Hockey Game.

Hosted by the Deer Lakes Hockey Club, the goal was to make people more aware of suicide and how it can be prevented, and to raise money for additional mental health awareness and care programs at the Deer Lakes School District.

Maura is one of two Deer Lakes students who died by suicide in the past two years.

“This event goes beyond hockey,” said club President Pietro Porco, who lost his sister, Annamaria Porco, to suicide nine years ago. “This event is for our entire Deer Lakes community.

“Suicide doesn’t have to be a stigma. It doesn’t have to be taboo. It is appropriate to talk about it to ensure that we can help everyone who needs help.”

The event consisted of three hockey games, an appearance by Pittsburgh Penguins mascot Iceburgh, raffle baskets, vendors, refreshments and awards.

Mental health professionals from organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, also were available to share information.

“I’m amazed and humbled and excited,” Molly Rupprecht said. “There’s people that traveled quite a distance to do this and be a part of this.”

More than 60 hockey players made up of a combination of Deer Lakes hockey alumni and high school students took to the ice in honor of Maura. She is connected to the hockey club through her brother, Mitchell, who used to be a member.

All wore different colored jerseys emblazoned with the number 1, which was Maura’s jersey number on the high school varsity soccer team. Inside each number one were the words: “All for one.”

The colors of the teams were green, yellow, teal and purple. Green and yellow are the school district’s colors. Teal and purple represent suicide prevention awareness.

Mitchell Rupprecht participated in the event. He wore a teal colored jersey, which was Maura’s favorite color.

“There’s quite a range of graduation years,” Maura’s father, Daniel Rupprecht, said of the players. “Some of them, our kids weren’t even in high school at the time.”

The Rupprecht family is working with district administrators to decide which mental health awareness and care programs will be most beneficial to students. All the proceeds raised at the event will go toward those programs.

They are still researching, but the Rupprechts said they would like to see coaches and club advisers receive training on how to recognize students who may be struggling.

“They spend a lot of time with the kids, and a lot of down time on the buses and locker rooms and (have) a little more laid back relationship with the kids,” Molly Rupprecht said. “They certainly could benefit.”