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The fourth annual Play For A Cure Pro-Am hockey tournament, which offers the opportunity for local fans to share the ice with former NHL players, raised $424,000 for cancer research in Windsor-Essex.
Money raised from the event will go to the Cancer Research Collaboration Fund, in partnership with the Windsor-Essex Community Foundation.
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The All Star game was the highlight of the three-day event, drawing more than 600 people to the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex in LaSalle on April 19 to watch Team Slap and Team Shot face off.
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The teams were made up of the top 22 fundraisers and NHL and professional alumni hockey players.
Eight men’s teams and two women’s teams completed in the tournament earlier in the day. For a chance to be drafted in the game, local players had to raise at least $750.
Players also participated in the Woody’s Hoodies Shoot Out, an initiative started by Windsor Spitfire’s player Carson Woodall to raise money for local cancer research in honour of his two grandmothers. Carson pitched in $12,720 to the cause.
The NHL’s United By Hockey Mobile Museum Experience was open throughout the weekend featuring interactive displays and artifacts celebrating hockey’s trailblazers and leaders.
The weekend began with local sports announcer Mark Knight interviewing NHL alumni Adam Graves and Hockey Hall of Famer Angela James on April 18 at Caesars Windsor. A more in-depth interview with former Canadian professional ice hockey player Gary Roberts followed.
On April 20, the Girls Skills For A Cure, in collaboration with the Sun Parlour Female Hockey Association, hosted their second annual technique workshop for young female hockey players.
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More than 170 area players joined the sessions, which were led by four female professional players, alongside high-level local coaches.
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The president and scientific director of the Terry Fox Research Institute, Dr. Jim Woodgett, was this year’s guest speaker.
The pro roster included Adam Graves, Tim Taylor, Meghan Agosta, Angela James, Michael Leighton, Megan Bozek, Gary Roberts, Mike Knuble, Mike Krushelnyski, Al Lafrate, Andre Roy, Brandon Prust and Andy Delmore.
More than 100 volunteers also helped run the fundraiser, including refereeing, score keeping, clean up, food preparation, change room management and venue security.
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