by Greg Layson
A number of Essex Ravens Local League hockey players did their part to help raise more than half-a-million-dollars for The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County over the holiday break.
Six Ravens house league teams participated in the 28th Annual Hockey for Hospice Tournament, held at four area hockey rinks from December 27-29. The six Essex teams combined to raise $15,872 for the compassionate, clinical, end-of-life care facility.
All told, 112 teams of youths, aged four to 14, played more than 200 games over three-days to raise $534,984.
“I think it’s a fantastic cause that our community needs. It really helps the kids understand what hospice does for everybody,” Essex-Southpoint Hockey President, Jamie Paquette, said.
Tournament Co-Chairperson, Paul Pietraszko, said the amount was the second-highest total, trailing only last year’s $587,780. Pietraszko added the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County will decide on exactly how to spend the money.
“It all goes directly to Hospice of Windsor and Essex County, and they use it to create the free programs and all of the fantastic things that they do there for helping people in need,” he said.
The organization offers 24-hour, state-of-the-art palliative care provided in a home-like environment in one of 23 suites split between two locations.
“When you go to Hospice, it's a sad thing, but there's no financial cost. Everything is free,” Pietraszko said. “And I need to emphasize that because there are some people that are under the mistake that you have to pay for those services and you don’t. That's one of the things that we like about this tournament raising this money; it helps to keep continuing those services.”
The tournament is geared toward house league teams, which don’t usually travel much, or even participate in tournaments in some cases.
“They look forward to this every year, for sure, as it’s a chance for local league and house league players to compete with other centres to see where they rank with other teams outside of travel,” Paquette said. “And they want to see money raised stay in our area, and how that money helps families.”
The Essex Blue Ballers beat the Tecumseh White Blizzards 3-2 in the U15 final, while Essex Yellow defeated the Erie North Shore Yellow 2 by a score of 5-1 to win the U11 division. The Essex Thunder White lost 4-1 to the South County Predators Yellow in the girls’ U13 division.
Pietraszko said when the tournament started, they weren’t sure it would last 15-years. They’ve nearly doubled that. And, since its inception, the tournament has raised $5.83 million.
“We're going to keep going as long as we possibly can,” he said. “As long as there is a desire for it, from the kids wanting to do this, and it's still a viable fundraiser, then we're going to continue with it.”