By Mark Squibb
The 8th Annual St. Kevin’s High Alumni Hockey Charity Classic has proven to be the biggest yet, with fans and corporate donors contributing $11,725, about $4,000 above last year’s total, which was the previous record.
“Any bit of money we can raise is a good thing,” said organizer Jason Snelgrove. “But when one of the organizers came out and passed me the slip of paper at the end, when I saw the total, I had to take three or four glances. I thought they must have miscounted somewhere.”
Snelgrove noted organizers this year secured ice time ahead of the alumni game for a free community general skate, and that the Goulds U7 and U9 Pacers played games during the intermission, which drew even more people to the game. He said these additions likely helped increased the donations but many folks are eager anyway to come out and help support a good cause.
The donations were distributed to a number of local causes, but the lion’s share, totalling over $8,000, was donated to Amanda Walsh, a St. Kevin’s High School alumni currently battling breast cancer.
“We were glad to be able to provide that level of financial support to take some of that strain and pressure off of her as she’s fighting her fight,” said Snelgrove. “There’s a whole lot of people in her corner and a whole lot of people thinking about her and supporting her.”
Organizers also donated $500 to Daffodil Place, $1,350 to the NL Down Syndrome Society (last year’s major recipient), and $1,500 to the Curtis Hudson Memorial Fund.
Snelgrove said while he hopes for an increase in donations each year, the event would be considered a success regardless.
“Overall, it was a huge success, so I’m certainly happy” said Snelgrove, who allowed the success of this year’s game has ensured the tradition will continue next year.
The game itself was tight throughout, but a volley of goals toward the end confirmed a win for the alumni team, which defeated the young guns 9-5.
“I said at the end of the game, ‘I don’t know how we did it,’” Snelgrove laughed. “The high school team is younger, they’re faster, they’re in better shape, they’re more skilled. Everything that they do they do better than we do. Maybe it’s just that as you get older you play the game in a little bit more of a smarter way. I don’t know.”
St. Kevins High School student Brendan Ryan tries to steal the puck from Alumni player Mark Williams who tries to protect it during action in the annual Charity Classic at Goulds Arena earlier this month. Bringing up the rear is St. Kevin’s High School student Keegan O’Brien. Photo courtesy of Stacey Birmingham Photography
