Alabama Hockey to host 'Harambe Night,' raise funds for primate sanctuary
Later this month will mark four months since the death of Harambe, the gorilla who lived at the Cincinnati Zoo before he was shot and killed by a worker after he grabbed a three-year-old child who climbed into his enclosure.
The internet has been running with Harambe-themed memes ever since.
To honor the fallen gorilla, the University of Alabama hockey team will host a “Harambe Night” during their Oct. 21 game against Vanderbilt. While the team is taking advantage of the gorilla’s internet fame, they’re also doing it with good intent.
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The Crimson Tide will be “adopting” a monkey from the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida. Money raised will help to support the sanctuary and benefit the primates living there. Special Harambe jerseys will also be on sale.
“With Harambe’s story in the national spotlight we thought this was a perfect opportunity to raise awareness for the care and outlook of endangered species,” Alabama hockey head coach John Bierchen said.
As an added bonus, the adopted monkey will paint a picture with its hands and feet that will be later auctioned off during the Vanderbilt game with 10 percent of the proceeds going to the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary.
This is just another instance of Harambe’s legend invading the hockey world. Earlier this week a teammate of Bo Taylor, a goaltender for Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL, revealed the netminder will have a picture of the gorilla on the back of his mask this season.
Big play by @botaylor4 paying tribute to Harambe on his mask for the season???????? @CityOfCincy #HarambeWasAnInsideJob pic.twitter.com/yddQ6rnu7P
— Matt Jones (@JattMones11) September 14, 2016
Calgary Flames top pick Matt Tkachuk donned a shirt in honor Harambe during the London Knight’s Memorial Cup parade a few weeks ago.
Finally, to go along with the rest of your jersey collection, you can honor Harambe on your hockey sweater.
We thought we were in the clear, until this @NHLBlackhawks fan decided to pull the trigger on this jersey… pic.twitter.com/L1BQf7nRv3
— IceJerseys.com (@IceJerseys) September 16, 2016
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy