TROTWOOD — The Dayton Gems hit the ice at Hara Arena for their home season finale Saturday. While a win over the Fort Wayne Komets would be a nice sendoff, the final score won’t matter nearly as much as the number of people in the stands.

The hockey team is hosting its second annual Pack the House Night, a charity event that will raise funds for the family of Lakeview,

Ohio infant Caleb Zwiebel, who was paralyzed in a car accident with his parents Brittany Ginter and Tom Zweibel last August. The Gems, who on Thursday said they will need new investors in order to return next season, will donate $1 for every ticket sold and an additional $2,000 to the Zweibels if the game is sold out.

“The family was very shocked when they heard that the Dayton Gems would do this for them,” said family friend Rebecca Vogt. “It means so much to them. They’ve been through a lot.”

Caleb’s grandmother, Hope Wickersham, has been “overwhelmed” by the help received.

“I can’t believe it,” said Wickersham. “Ever since the accident, so many people, people we don’t even know, have pitched in.”

She added that the original prognosis for Caleb was bleak. Doctors said the most the family could hope for was Caleb being able to open his eyes. But months later, he has progressed tremendously. Caleb, who still wears a halo, can now breathe on his own, move his arms and fingers and transfer things between his hands.

“Everybody’s amazed at how far he has come,” said Wickersham.

The Zweibels are considering going to Panama to get stem cell treatment, which, they hope, would give Caleb a chance to walk again.

The Gems did not hesitate to assist when approached.

“If we didn’t do it, who else would?” asked team president Joe Greene, a father of two young sons. “It was an easy decision for us to say, ‘Absolutely, we will do whatever we can to sell out this arena.’ ”

“One of our goals has been to sell out a game at Hara and what better way to honor this family. It will be emotional on many levels.”

Greene credited director of game night operations Ashley Lentz for spearheading the event. There were fewer than 2,000 tickets remaining on Thursday afternoon.