The Pittsburgh Penguins held an 11-second moment of silence on Tuesday prior to their game against the New York Islanders to remember the victims of Saturday’s shooting at Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood—each second for the 11 who were killed.
Additionally, Penguins players wore a special “Stronger than Hate” black-and-white silhouette patch that combined the team’s logo and Star of David. The Islanders featured something similar on their helmets.
During the ceremony, the words “Stronger than Hate” flashed on the jumbotron as a video tribute played before face-off time. A ceremonial puck drop consisted of Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert and the officers wounded in the attack, Anthony Burke and Mike Smigda.
A fourth wounded officer, Dan Reed, is still recuperating.
The Penguins’ jerseys were also autographed, and they will be auctioned to raise money in support of the victims and their families. The team also hosted a blood drive and donated $25,000 to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, in addition to a similar amount to create a benefit fund with the city’s Department of Public Safety for the four police officers injured in the shooting.
The Islanders won 6-3.
“The Pittsburgh Penguins join the greater Pittsburgh community in standing up against this senseless violence and supporting the victims and families of the Tree of Life Synagogue,” said David Morehouse, president and CEO of the team. “Under these circumstances, we determined it was not appropriate to continue with our annual Halloween theme on Tuesday, so those activities have been cancelled. The entire city has a heavy heart.”
On Twitter, the team posted a quote attributed to local icon Fred Rogers: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look at the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ ”
