fighting cancer
head-on
How a flexible digital platform helped The 11 Day Power Play turn an ambitious hockey fundraiser into an enduring Western New York tradition.
the opportunity
When founders Mike and Amy Lesakowski approached clevermethod with the idea for The 11 Day Power Play, the vision was as bold as the name: bring the hockey community together to fight cancer and support families across Western New York.
From the beginning, the organization needed more than a website that could tell an inspiring story. It needed a digital home capable of supporting donations, registrations, teams, players, sponsors, volunteers and event-day information; then changing again as each new event cycle introduced different needs.
building the digital foundation
clevermethod designed and developed the original website, creating custom illustrations that captured the determination of the fight both on and off the ice. That launch established the visual and technical foundation for the event while giving supporters clear paths to learn, participate and contribute.
As the organization grew, the site grew with it. Our team connected the public-facing experience with the practical systems behind the event, supporting donation and fundraising pathways, registration tools, team applications, player schedules, captain resources, sponsor visibility, news, video, photography and merchandise-related needs.
more than a launch
The event’s success created a new challenge: the website could not stand still. Every year brought updated schedules, rosters, fundraising links, sponsors, beneficiaries, media and participant resources. The platform had to remain current during high-visibility event periods while also being maintainable behind the scenes.
clevermethod became the organization’s long-term digital support team. Across multiple event formats and fundraising campaigns, we have continued to manage WordPress development, content updates, integrations, analytics, testing, deployment, training and ongoing maintenance. We have also worked alongside other agency partners in branding, photography, video and creative to continue evolving campaign ideas into a reliable digital experience.
what the partnership supports
- Fundraising and participation:
Donation pathways, fundraising links, registration forms, team applications and volunteer information. - Teams and event operations:
Team and captain pages, player schedules, resource centers, rosters and event-year updates. - Community visibility:
Sponsor and beneficiary content, news, photography, video and campaign media. - Long-term WebOps:
WordPress updates, analytics, testing, deployment, documentation, training and responsive support.
the impact
What began as a brainstorm has become an annual community effort that has raised more than $13 million for critical cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and for programs supporting children and families through Camp Good Days and Make-A-Wish Western New York.
The website has served as a consistent digital foundation throughout that growth, giving the organization room to adapt from one event cycle to the next.
The result is a long-running digital partnership that keeps the platform useful, current and ready for whatever the next faceoff brings.