Last year, we took our first shot at it and scored for victims of crime in our region.
This year, we’ll hit the ice again and we’re looking to run up the score even higher.
Now that all of the token hockey analogies are out of the way, I’m talking, of course, about my second annual charity game, the Wild Rose Hockey Challenge, presented by Bow Valley Credit Union. Our inaugural game in 2009 raised $10,000 for four regional victims of crime service groups.
Now, after a full year to plan the second game, we’re looking for even bigger and better things from the Wild Rose Hockey Challenge.
The game will once again feature a team of federal Conservative Members of Parliament against a squad of Alberta provincial Members of Legislative Assembly.
And if the novelty of seeing politicians deke a puck rather than a policy isn’t enough for you, we’ve recruited plenty of National Hockey League players to assist both sides and make things even more interesting.
We’re still finalizing the roster as game day approaches, but NHL players and NHL alumni who are already confirmed for this year include Sheldon Kennedy, Zach Boychuk, Jason Jaffray, Brett Sutter and Morris Lukowich.
From our Conservative Government’s cabinet, we’ll have Minister of Defence Peter MacKay and Environment Minister Jim Prentice – able hockey players in their own right – as well as several of my hockey-playing caucus colleagues from across the country.
The provincial MLAs’ team crosses party lines, with the Progressive Conservatives (including Culture and Community Spirit Minister Lindsay Blackett), Wildrose Alliance (Rob Anderson and Paul Hinman) and, yes, even the Liberals (Hugh MacDonald) all represented.
The full roster is available at www.wildrosehockey.com and will be updated regularly as more players confirm.
Game time is 1:45 p.m. on July 11 at Ron Ebbesen Twin Arena in Airdrie. There will be a meet-and-greet with NHLers and other players at 12 p.m.
In addition to the game action, there will be a well-stocked silent auction. And spectators will also have a chance to win a place in a shootout for a new 2010 Honda Insight, courtesy of Airdrie Honda.
Tickets cost just $10 and can be purchased securely on the game website. You can also bid online to win one of two roster spots available to actually play in the game alongside the NHLers. Again, just visit www.wildrosehockey.com and click the ‘Auction’ tab.
All proceeds benefit the Airdrie and District, Cochrane and District, Bow Valley, and Chinook Arch victims’ assistance groups, which do excellent work helping local victims of crime, tragedy and disaster, recover from their ordeals.
Remember, the puck drops on July 11.
I really hope to see you there.
