In memory of York Lions hockey alumnus Mark Cross, the Lions home game on Saturday Jan. 5 against the Brock Badgers will double as the Mark Cross Memorial Game. 
 
Cross, who played for the Lions from 2011-16, was an assistant coach with the Humboldt Broncos last season and lost his life in the team's tragic bus crash on April 6, 2018. Cross' life and legacy will be celebrated by the Lions during on-ice pre-game ceremony that will include Cross' family, friends and former teammates as well as the retirement of his No. 18 jersey.
 
"Honouring Mark is extremely important to us," said Jennifer Myers, Executive Director of York Athletics and Recreation. "There's no one more deserving of having their jersey retired than Mark and it's our privilege to host Mark's family, friends and former teammates at the game to celebrate Mark's life and the incredible impact he left on everyone here at York."    
 
The first 250 fans in attendance to the game will receive a commemorative MC18 T-Shirt and the game will feature the opportunity to purchase special edition MC18 apparel and a commemorative MC18 puck raffle. Admission to the game will be free for all attendees with donations at the door being very much appreciated. All proceeds from the game will go to the Mark Cross Fund, which was established by York Athletics and Recreation earlier this year to honour Cross' memory through coaching initiatives and student-athlete scholarships.
 
"Mark set the standard of what a York Lion is to be and is a great example of what we want all of our student-athletes to strive to achieve," said Lions head coach Russ Herrington. "As a three-time assistant captain, a multiple time academic all-Canadian, and the team MVP, Mark left a legacy behind on the ice, in the dressing room, and in the classroom that not only carries on to this day but will stay with us for many years to come. It was a unanimous consensus among his former coaches, teammates and all of those within the Lions family that he is deserving of having his number retired. To be able to share this night with Molly and Mark's family was something that was very important to our program and we are thankful for the opportunity to do so."
 
In addition, the first-ever viewing of the Mark Cross HumboldtStrong Remembrance Tour documentary in Wild Wing at Canlan Ice Sports after the game. The documentary covers the Lions three-game exhibition tour of Saskatchewan in September, that saw them play three teams from the CanWest conference in Lumsden, Sask., where Cross grew up playing youth hockey, the Bronco's home rink in Humboldt, Sask., and the final game ever at the Saskatchewan Huskies historical Rutherford Rink, Saskatoon, Sask.
 
Cross spent five seasons with the Lions and graduated with a degree in kinesiology and health science in 2016. He was one of the leaders in the Lions dressing room during his time with the team, serving as assistant captain for three seasons and was named team MVP for his fifth and final season with the team. Following his graduation, Cross returned to his hometown of Strasbourg, Sask., and coached midget hockey in Lumsden for a year before being named an assistant coach with the Broncos for the 2017-18 season. 
 
Donations towards the Mark Cross Fund can also be given by visiting the below link:
 
Mark Cross Fund