The Moose Jaw Warriors will wear SpongeBob SquarePants jerseys on Jan. 7 as part of a new charitable initiative driven by RE/MAX, who have partnered with Paramount Global and its subsidiary Nickelodeon in support of the Children’s Miracle Network.
An entire SpongeBob SquarePants-themed night is being hosted at the Moose Jaw Events Centre — nicknamed the “Hanger” — on Jan. 7 when the Moose Jaw Warriors play the Seattle Thunderbirds.
“The RE/MAX presents: Nickelodeon Night for Children’s Miracle Network, done in partnership with the Western Hockey League, promises to be a fun and interactive event, and one that is going to raise critically needed funds to support children’s hospitals in Western Canada,” said Mark Hierlihy, president and CEO of Canada Children’s Hospital Foundations.
Jaret Schneider, director of business operations with the Moose Jaw Warriors, helped to set up the Nickelodeon Night. He said he, the Warriors, and their fans are looking forward to something different and fun, and are proud to be working for the benefit of Saskatchewan’s Jim Pattison Children's Hospital in Saskatoon.
“We’ve chosen to go with the SpongeBob theme for our night,” Schneider said. “We’ve been working with Nickelodeon to put the jerseys together, so we’ll have those … and then the jerseys will be auctioned off with all the proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network.
“And, of course, the funds will stay local, going to Saskatoon and the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.”
Schneider and the team received five theme options from Nickelodeon. The Warriors then reached out to the principals of local elementary schools, who either polled their students or used their own knowledge of what the kids are into these days.
“It was an overwhelming favourite to go with SpongeBob,” Schneider laughed. He remembers being a SpongeBob fan himself. “I’m a little old for it now, but when my brother and I were young, I still remember coming home from school every day and watching SpongeBob. It’s one of those shows that has stood the test of time.”
RE/MAX, one of the world’s leading real estate franchisors, is the WHL’s longest-standing corporate sponsor, while Nickelodeon is a global giant in entertainment for kids.
“I think (the players) are excited, it’s something that’s definitely different from the current jerseys we wear,” Schneider said. “For a one-night spinoff, hopefully it resonates with the kids and becomes popular moving forward.”
