STA's Joey Pickett honored to play for his aunt in annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Saturday
CASTLETON, Vermont — Joey Pickett was a three-year starter on the defensive line with the St. Thomas Aquinas football team. He was first named a Division II all-state selection in his junior year, and again this past fall in his senior season.
Those honors and accolades provided Pickett, a Rye resident, the opportunity to play in either of the annual CHaD (Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock) or Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl games this summer.
While both games raise money for great causes, it was a no-brainer which game Pickett would choose. Pickett, who served as a captain for the Saints last fall, will be on team New Hampshire in Saturday’s annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl game against Vermont at Castleton State College.
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“It’s really an honor,” said Pickett, who will play for his aunt, Sarahjayne Howland, who suffered burns from her shoulders to knees as a result of a pot of boiling water spilling on her when she was 5 years old. “She was treated at the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital burn center; it means a lot to me playing in this game for her. It was an easy decision.”
New Hampshire leads the all-time series, 50-16-2. Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. New Hampshire won last year's game 7-0.
“Joey is just an incredible, kind kid,” said Howland, now a nurse at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover. “He is this big, strong, athletic funny kid, but he also has the biggest heart. He’s a great human being and I am so honored he chose to play in this game.”
Pickett has raised just over $7,000. All net proceeds from this game benefits the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Boston Burns Institute, and the Montreal Shriners Hospital in Canada. The game has raised just under $5 million since its inception.
“Shriners does incredible work from the time of injury all the way through adulthood looking for ways to improve quality of life of their patients,” said Howland, who lives in Somersworth. “Joey has raised a lot of money, which is phenomenal. I am so proud of him. He could be at the beach, he could be with his friends. Instead he is raising funds, raising awareness, and doing great work. He also gets to play in this great game as well. I am in awe of what a great person he is.”
Howland, due to a prior commitment made last year, is unable to attend Saturday’s game.
“I’ll be watching, FaceTiming, following every second of the game and cheering as loud as I can,” she said. “I am so incredibly proud of him. The game is important, but the good work that all the athletes are doing is just amazing. These young guys are out there talking about the incredible work that Shriners does. Most people don’t understand what they do, but they are treating serious burn injuries and really making the difference in lives of children.”
Pickett will continue his football career at St. Lawrence University, a Division III program in Canton, New York. He leaves for preseason camp next Wednesday.
“I am excited to put the pads on again and paly Saturday,” Pickett said. “I think we’re going to do well. Vermont has some big boys, but I think we have the advantage with speed and athleticism.”
Five other Seacoast grads playing for New Hampshire
Pickett will be joined by his St. Thomas Aquinas teammate Devon Paquette.
“It’s been pretty fun so far,” said Paquette, a Division II all-conference wide receiver last fall. “I am really honored to play in this game. We met some of the kids at hospital, and that really puts everything in perspective. It’s nice to give back.”
Exeter will have three representatives in Hayden Froumy, Brad Richards and Owen Simons, and Ned Drena of Spaulding is also playing.
“Playing in this game is huge for me,” said Drena, who missed part of his final season with the Red Raiders due to injury. “We’re playing for a good cause. We’ve been able to meet a lot of the patients and the stories they have to tell really touches you and that gives you more of a reason to play.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: St. Thomas grad Pickett honored to play in Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl
