24 Hour Hockey game a breakaway success

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice
Assists: Toni Lucas, Josh Davis

At 7 pm Friday, October 12, Darin Kay and Marty Jurgens faced off at the MCC arena in Pincher Creek as Maggie Olson of the Windy Slopes Health Foundation dropped the ceremonial opening puck, and the 24 Hour Hockey Game was officially underway.

Approximately 50 adult hockey players participated over the course of the event, brought together by a good cause.  Local citizen Dan Crawford conceived the event as a  fundraiser to raise money for heart and stroke equipment for the Pincher Creek hospital, through the Windy Slopes organization. Crawford explained that the cause was one that was widely recognized as important to his fellow athletes.

Players were divided into two teams, those wearing black jerseys and those wearing white ones.  "We had 36 ice shifts we had to fill so we had 10 players from each team that would be out for each of those 36 shifts," Crawford explained afterward.  "Everybody filled in where they had to."  It was pointed out by someone that during the course of a normal tournament a player is on the ice for an average of three hours.  During this event many of the players were on the ice for at least 12 hours.  Some of the players could still see minor hockey in their rearview, and probably the oldest player in the game was Gordie Lawrence at 67 years old.

Photos: Chris Davis, Josh Davis, Toni Lucas

Players continued to show up unexpectedly throughout the course of the event, plunking down at least the $200 minimum donation to support the cause, even if they only had an hour or two to spare for the game itself.  Some pulled multiple duties, like Janet Jones, who both reffed and played over the course of the event.

Janet Jones in ref mode

The bragging rights for the first goal in the game went to Hayden Shackel of the black team.  That early lead proved to be prophetic, as the black team managed to stay ahead by about ten points for most of the event. Checking in periodically, it looked like everyone was having fun out there, and the hockey was brisk and entertaining.

Pincher Creek Rotary Club members serving up breakfast on
Saturday morning

At the 12 hour mark on Saturday morning it was time to break for a delicious breakfast served up by the Pincher Creek Rotary Club.  By then there were definitely signs of fatigue in evidence off-ice, but on-ice after breakfast the play continued to be fast paced good hockey.

"I was up a 7 o'clock on Friday morning, and I've had 45 minutes sleep," said Cal "Pappy" Olson after the game.  "I have sore spots were I didn't even know I had spots.  I don't know if I can drive home."

"They stuck in there, right to the end,"  Olson continued.  "It was good."  He said some players had to miss the end of the game due to injuries.

The rink filled up for the last three periods of play

"The last three periods we put all the teams together White team in one box, black team in the other and we just went at it.  The last minute I jumped up and said 'Okay everybody get out on the ice lets finish it off with everybody'.  We had a scrimmage, like we do on the pond out in the country, and it was awesome."

It was quite a sight to see from the audience too.  A sizable and supportive crowd gathered to watch the final periods play out.

"Did you watch the final game?" asked participant Roland Milligan, referring to the final three periods.  "The energy was still there for that game."

The final score was 67 to 77 for the black team, really a very close game all things considered.

After the game concluded a puck-toss was held.  Tara Cryderman got her puck closest to the target and walked away with a $300 gift certificate from UFA.  A multitude of other prizes were up for grabs as well.

Dan Crawford sorts out who was the puck toss winner (Tara Cryderman)

The adjacent Pincher Creek Curling Club lent their clubhouse to the event, and after it was all over many of the players finished up there for a dinner prepared by the Bloomin' Inn and served up by Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village staff.

Dan Crawford shaking hands at the conclusion of the game

Dan Crawford was excited by the fundraising success of the event, while reminding people they can still donate to the worthwhile cause, either by bringing donations to Sudsy's Car Wash or through other participants in the event.  You can also contact Dan Crawford via email at sudsyscarwash@gmail.com

A final tally of funds raised has yet to be calculated. "We have a lot of money that has been promised to us by individuals, groups and companies," Crawford said.

"To play, individuals had to donate $200 or more, and many brought more.  Companies were incredible, members of the public walked into the rink and handed us cheques.   Walking down the street people handed us cash money and cheques, because it's the right cause.  It's something we all feel strongly about, and it's going to benefit our community.  It's not just a small group of people it's going to help, it's going to touch everybody in some way, shape or form.  Whether it's you yourself, or your Mom or Dad, your Uncle or Grandpa, there is somebody in your family that's going to be affected by that machine.  Up in the hospital they use the machine that's there right now, the Lifepack 12, everyday.  Most of the time it's just a monitor, and not an urgent thing, but it is in use everyday.  We are giving a better machine, for better service to our community."  The new upgraded unit will be a Lifepack 15.

"It was awesome. the way it was received by the public, the community, all the players that came out to help.  Everybody was so happy and positive it was just such a neat experience to bring this much of a crew together," Crawford continued.

"I think down the road, I would like to approach it again. Now we've done it once, we know what works, what doesn't work, how to tweak it to make it better.  People have done it once, and they know what to expect.  I think it could become a bigger event."

"Right now, we're the walking wounded, we're tired, and sore, and beat up, and it was great, and so much fun," Crawford concluded.

Related link: Windy Slopes Health Foundation