Rochester faces the Jamestown Jackals in a showdown of undefeated teams.
By Garon Galio
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester RazorSharks announced that the Sunday, Jan. 29 game against the Jamestown Jackals will be held in honor of local legend Orest Hrywnak.
Orest was a dear member of not only the RazorSharks family, but the Rochester community as a whole. He spent 25 years in the radio industry as a promotional guru and was a major contributor, along with his brother, RazorSharks owner Dr. Sev Hrywnak, in bringing the team to prominence. Orest displayed a passion and enthusiasm for the RazorSharks that was unmatched. Even after his health problems began, he could be found coming in and out of the Sharks office each week. He never let anything or anyone slow him down.
Always out and about in the community, Orest was known as “Captain Cash” to many from his radio days in the 70’s and 80’s. If he spotted you on the road with a bumper sticker from his radio station, he might have pulled you over in his car – the “Happy Honker” – and give you $95. Orest was the king of promotions and seemed to know everyone in town. The endless stories about famous bands and singers he met over the years were enough to keep anyone entertained for hours on end. Outside of radio and promotions, he was also involved in Rochester’s Ukrainian community; for 35 years he was co-chair for the Ukrainian Festival at St. Josephats Church.
The RazorSharks would like to invite any and all who knew Orest to join us on Sunday to honor him one last time with a RazorSharks game in his memory. Admission will be free for all, as the Blue Cross Arena was kind enough to donate the facility for the day to pay tribute to the late, great “Captain Cash.” Those who attend are asked to consider making a donation in Orest’s name to his favorite charity, Project HUGS, which provides surgeries to underinsured individuals at minimal to no cost.
In Orest’s honor, and to celebrate his love for the rock band U2 (a band he had seen in concert more than 20 times), a RazorSharks jersey will be retired with the number U2 under his own on the evening of the event. His dear friends and family will raise the commemorative jersey to the rafters at the Blue Cross Arena. There will be more information regarding the game in the coming week.