Around-the-clock hockey to benefit 13 Sarnia-area charities

Tickets are now available to watch previews of this year’s Sarnia Sting, Sarnia Legionnaires, Petrolia Flyers and Mooretown Flags hockey teams as they take part in a 24-hour Charity Hockey Game Sept. 8 at Sarnia’s Progressive Auto Sales Arena.

The event that will see hockey games played over 24 hours at the arena, while raising money for local charities, is a new venture for Sarnia’s Hashtage Charitable Foundation, which also organizes the Race to Erase fundraiser.

Tickets are free to watch the Sting, Legionnaires, Flyers and Flag play during a special portion of the community event set to begin at 5 pm Sept. 8. A list of ticket locations can be found at the foundation’s website, hashtagcharitable.com.

“They can come out and get a first chance to check out the Sting, and all those other amazing teams, and get excited for the upcoming hockey season,” said Kaley Holder, with the foundation.

“We know the whole place had Sting fever last spring,” she said about the team’s playoff run.

“There are some new faces on the team so we’re excited to give them some new exposure, and also work with some other teams in the community who play an incredible level of hockey.”

The Sting and Legionnaires are expected to play inter-squad games but the Flyers and Flags will play against each other, Holder said.

“The Sting are taking to the ice at 8 pm,” she said. “The final schedule will be available in the next couple of weeks.”

It’s part of 24 hours of hockey games set to run from 8 am, Sept. 8, through 8 am, Sept. 9, at the arena next to Lambton College.

Holder said teams have been signing up to play in one-hour time slots and organizers aim to match them up with opponents with similar skill level, age and ability.

“We are three-quarters of the way filled, at this point,” she said. But, there are “a few remaining spots, so if teams are interested in participating we are still looking for a few.”

Each team is asked to raise $1,000 for a charity.

“The idea is that, every hour of play, $2,000 at a minimum is being raised for the community,” Holder said.

It’s hoped the event will raise more than $50,000 in total for a list of 13 local charities.

“We’re excited to see this happen for the first time ever,” she said.

Holder said they were looking for a new event and were inspired by a marathon outdoor charitable hockey game in Alberta.

“We thought this is pretty amazing but in an area like this, we don’t really have the use of an outdoor rink,” so organizers came up with the 24-hour event in an arena, she said.

“We’ve been working on this project for most of this year,” and several sponsors have come onboard to help make it possible, Holder said.

A wide range of teams and ages have signed on, she said.

“We have some lovely ‘huff and puff’ gentlemen in the tournament, all the way down to some under-18s.”

The aim was to make it “an inclusive event,” Holder said.

“We have some high level competitive teams playing and we have some more house-league style teams.”

The Sept. 8 event will also be the official start of fundraising by the teams that will have until the end of the year to raise a minimum of $1,000 for their charity.

Teams have also been asked to perform a good deed in the community.

Holder said that can include such things as food drives, parks cleanups or volunteering at local events.

She said they are providing suggested activities but leaving room for “some creativity” if teams have an idea of ​​their own.

“It’s a way for them to connect with the organization on a more personal level,” Holder said.

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