Stubble on many of the Islanders players’ usually clean-shaven faces has already prompted a few friendly locker room chirps going. It’s a clear cut sign that Movember has begun. Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau, Michael Grabner, Travis Hamonic, Andrew MacDonald, Matt Martin, Al Montoya and Matt Moulson have all pledged to grow moustaches for the entire month of November to join the National campaign.

“Some moustaches are better than others, but it’s a fun way to get involved,” Comeau said. “Even if it is something little like growing a moustache for a month, if it helps with the cause then it’s something we like to do.”

Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey pose for a picture on Day 2 of Movember 2011.

By growing the hair above their upper lip, players across the National Hockey League and men throughout the country help raise awareness and money for men’s heath, specifically prostate cancer. Fans can donate to the cause by visiting Movember.com and donating to raise funds for prostate cancer research.

For these eight Isles players, that’s 30 days without shaving their upper lip, but they’re glad to do it.

“We are in a position where people see us and we can raise awareness,” Montoya said. “It was really nice to raise awareness for breast cancer last month and now this month, it’s for men’s prostate cancer.”

After sporting pink tape and ribbons on their sticks throughout October, the team has upped the ante for this November charity endeavor.

For Moulson, the cause hits close to home.

“My wife’s side of the family has had some battles with prostate cancer, so I’m happy to help support the cause,” Moulson said.

Moulson has teamed with Sportschirps.com to create a unique T-Shirt just for Movember. The blue t-shirt has Moulson’s face silhouetted in orange. He’s got one eyebrow raised and a thick ‘stache. (Purchase your “Moulstache” T-Shirt)

The above image will appear on every "Moulstache" T-shirt.

“I’ve been in contact with them for the last couple months,” Moulson said. “They were really quick to design a shirt for Movember and I think it looks great. So hopefully it sells a bunch because $5 from every shirt sold will be donated to prostate cancer research.”

Participants are allowed to groom, trim and wax their ‘staches. Bailey has already taken the forefront on that issue, as his naturally blonde facial hair is so hard to see that he actually went to the store and bought a box of hair dye.

“I grow mostly blonde hair,” Bailey said. “You wouldn’t be able to see it if I didn’t put a little color in it.”

Martin has the same problem, so he plans to follow suit once his whiskers have a little more time to grow. To be fair, Bailey had a head start on Martin.

“Me and Blake (Comeau) talked about doing Movember in the summer, and I know a bunch of guys planned on doing it,” Bailey said. “We just got a head start. I haven’t shaved in a few days. Since I don’t grow facial hair all that fast, I figured I’d better leave it or else I would be starting pretty far behind the eight ball.”

These new facial fashions have already come under fire in the locker room.

“I think Comeau looks like Mario or Luigi already,” Martin said.

Though there’s a pretty good consensus around the locker room that Moulson’s ‘stache will ultimately be the best by the end of the month.

“You can tell he can grow facial hair pretty quick,” Bailey said. “So 30 days of him growing it, it’ll be nasty by the end of it for sure. We were already joking about it today, some guys were laughing at other guys. It keeps a light mood while we’re doing a good thing.”

Moulson agreed that his will probably be the best and said it should grow in pretty thick.

He added, “It will be pretty greasy.”