By Mark Squibb/March 17, 2023
Current members of the St. Kevin’s Mavericks and the St. Kevin’s Mavericks Alumni All-Star Team hit the ice for an evening of competitive hockey and fundraising last Friday night, as community volunteers hosted the 7th Annual St. Kevin’s High Alumni Hockey Charity Classic.
Jason Snelgrove helps organise the game each year.
“You’re always wondering if the support is going to lessen, if it’s going to get a little bit stale, a little bit old, but there were lots of people in the rink,” said Snelgrove. “We had lots of students in the rink, lots of young kids and families.”
Lots of laughs and smiles.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, support for the game has held steady over the years with $6,500 becoming a sort of fundraising benchmark.
Volunteers raised $6,900 this year through donations and ticket sales. Organizers donated about $2,600 to the Curtis Hudson Memorial Fund, and about $4,300 to the Newfoundland and Labrador Down Syndrome Society.
“It seems like every year we get a few more monetary donations prior to the game,” said Snelgrove. “So, it’s kind of nice going into the game knowing that you have a little bit of a cushion.”
And though the main order of the night is raising funds, both the young and young at heart dress for the game hungry for the win.
This time around, the alumni team earned the bragging rights.
“The older fellows managed to squeeze in a win,” said Snelgrove. “It was a very clean, intense hockey game.”
He said tat the game was tied 3-3 early in the third period, but the alumni were able to get a few ‘fluky’ goals and empty netters late in the third. The final score was 9-4.
“The final score didn’t really indicate what kind of a game it was,” said Snelgrove. “I think it was one of the most competitive games we’ve had. They’re starting to show us that the old guys are going to have to buck up their game a little bit if we want to continue our winning streak, because those young guys are right at out heels… it was a very close hockey game.”
Snelgrove said the event is a chance for young people to learn about doing good for others, and that it helps bring the community closer together.
The day of the game, members of the high school team, decked out in their jerseys, went to Goulds Elementary to read to elementary students and promote the charity event.
Snelgrove said the elementary kids treated the high school boys like rock stars, cheering them on and asking for autographs.
“That’s what it’s about,” said Snelgrove. “Making those connections and building positive role models within the community.”
