Street hockey tournament raises money for STARS

Apr 16, 2018 | 1:00 PM

Staff and students from the W.P. Sandin School and community members from Shellbrook gathered together to show their support for the Humboldt Broncos and raise funds for a good cause.

A street hockey tournament raised $14,000, which was donated to STARS Air Ambulance. The tournament was a way for the kids to express their support for the Humboldt Broncos following the accident which claimed the lives of 16 members of the Broncos organization. STARS helped extensively during the aftermath of the accident, transporting the injured from the scene to hospitals via helicopter.

“The kids came back to school on Monday after the Easter break with a burning desire to do something,” tournament coordinator Nicole Phillip said. “Kelly Herndier and Melissa [Moe] presented the idea of a street hockey tournament and a barbeque, and the kids jumped all over it.”

She said the school’s student leadership council helped plan and organize the event, and collected donations for the cause from across Shellbrook.

Sixth Ave. E. and First St. E. were shut down to allow four different games to be played at once. Eighteen teams with roughly 120 kids offered donations in order to participate in the tournament. Phillip said she wasn’t surprised to see such a big turnout at the gathering, as the sport of hockey is near and dear to the kids and the community’s heart and the tragic accident hit close to home with many in Shellbrook. At 1 p.m. a moment of silence was observed to honour the 16 people who died in the crash.

“The support has been overwhelming,” Phillip said.

Inside the school, a raffle was held and burgers and hot dogs were sold to raise additional funds, and several local businesses also made donations.

 

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas