In a tribute to hockey moms and to raise awareness of breast cancer, Tie Domi, Mats Sundin, Steve Yzerman, Sidney Crosby and others — will have a pink stick in hand tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.

TPS Hockey, the sports equipment company, is forking out an estimated $50,000 for the initiative which sprouted in the Gretzky family home in Brantford, Ont.

The idea took root shortly after the death in December of Wayne Gretzky's mother, Phyllis.

"It's a tribute to hockey moms," said Brad Janson, TPS's director of pro-hockey.

Janson said Phyllis Gretzky died of lung cancer and TPS's new owner Paul Walker lost his sister to breast cancer — so it was decided to focus on breast cancer.

Janson said most of the players know someone who has been affected by breast cancer.

It will definitely be unique to see "a tough and rough player using a pink stick," Janson said.

"Pink is not usual synonymous with hockey," said Gary Ireland, a supervisor at the Wallaceburg plant in southwestern Ontario where the 75 workers have been busy this week painting all the hockey sticks.

"It's great," Denise Guthrie, a worker and sister of a breast cancer survivor, said of the initiative.

TPS is picking up the tab for the $300 cost of each stick and its painting.

The company is also painting and screening other name-brand hockey sticks at the request of players.

Janson estimates more than 400 pink sticks will hit the ice.

Each player involved in the fundraiser will have his name inscribed on the stick which will later be autographed and auctioned off to raise money for breast cancer research.