Charity hockey game enters fifth year
By Mark Squibb | Vol. 13 No. 3 (February 6, 2020)
Hockey fans in the Goulds area will want to mark Feb. 21 on their calendars.
That’s the night of the St. Kevin’s Mavericks Hockey Alumni Charity Classic, which pits the current high school team against a select roster of alumni players.
This will be the fifth annual matchup, which each year being a little more successful than the last.
“It started as a small thing,” said organizer Jason Snelgrove. “The first year we did it, I thought ‘The alumni players have donated a couple of bucks, and the high school players have donated a couple of bucks, and if we could get together five or six hundred dollars, it would be great, we’ll donate to some charity.’”
The first year, the event raised just about $1,700.
“We thought that was outstanding,” he said. “To this point, we’ve raised over $16,600 in four years. Every year we raised more money. We’re certainly hoping we can break the $20,000 in year five,”
Last year the group raised a little over $6,600, so cracking the $20,000 mark seems to be a realistic goal.
Apart from individual donations, there are St. Kevin’s students accepting donations at the door, as well as a 50/50 draw and plenty of door prizes provided by local businesses.
Every year, organizers scout for potential local beneficiaries, in addition to the Curtis Hudson Memorial Fund, a non-profit dedicated to building a playground in Goulds in honour of young Cutis Hudson, who passed away after a short battle with brain cancer in 2017, which the alumni game has supported for the last number of years.
“Every year, the basis of the game was to pick a family, or a person, or an organization in the community or close to someone in the community, that could use a monetary donation. And not necessarily that they need the money, per say, but it’s a bit of money to boost spirits if they’re going through a difficult medical time,” said Snelgrove. “We try to reach out to a different family, a different circumstance, a different person, or whatever the case may be.”
This year, funds will be raised for Alicia Danielle Burry of Petty Harbour— Maddox Cove and St. Kevin’s student Jake Langer to help with medical treatments, in addition to the Curtis Hudson Memorial Fund.
“It kind of keeps the event fresh, and people know that they’re supporting multiple people and multiple families,” said Snelgrove.
The high school students, either battling it out on the ice, collecting donations at the door, or helping behind the scenes, are also benefactors in a way.
“They’re learning how the world works, and they enjoy the fact that they are a part of something that gives back to the community, that they can help people in the community. And we’ve had people come onto the ice to accept donations with tears in their eyes,” said James.
The on-ice action has become quite heated over the years as well.
“Everybody wants to win,” said Snelgrove.
Currently, the alumni hold a 4—0 record.
“The older guys know how to play the game,” said James, noting that hockey IQ and experience has given the alumni the edge against the young guys.
“Every year the high school team is getting closer and closer. They believe every year that they’re going to win.
“They’re certainly more skilled, a lot of the time, and they’re certainly quicker, and they have more energy than a lot of the alumni players. And they think that alone will win them a hockey game.”
Both teams, said James, once hockey season starts up in the fall look forward to the game, enjoying a healthy dose of banter along the way.
And, in a small community, you can usually find a family member or two to play against the young players.
“What we’ve really tried to do over the last couple of years is find alumni hockey players who have a connection to players on the team. So, we’ve had some dads play in the past, we’ve had some uncles play in the past. This year we have a son and father combo,” said James, adding that watching the inter-generational game is pretty special. “The alumni will get to hang out afterward and tell their stories about what it was like to play hockey twenty-five years ago, or when the last time they won a championship was, or how the game has changed.
The game, held at the Goulds Arena, has been incorporated in the Goulds Winter Carnival, which runs from Feb. 14— 21 and is open to all members of the community.
“It’s turned into something bigger than any of the organizers could have ever imagined,” said James, adding that without support from fans, business, and players, the event would not be possible.
The 2019 Alumni and St. Mavericks teams.
