Professional hockey is still more than a month away but one local service club is eager to strike up a massive street game this weekend with charity right at centre ice.
The St. Albert chapter of the Canadian Progress Club will be hosting its inaugural River City Street Classic, a 24-Hour Street Hockey Challenge that will see two teams of 22 players battle each other in a match of athletic supremacy and ultimate goodwill.
CPC representative Chris Turnbull expects a crowd of sports fans and community supporters, that is if only they have enough players.
"We really need about 30 players for sure," he admitted. Each participant needs to raise a minimum of $300 in order to register. Turnbull asked that interested parties get in touch as soon as possible.
The teams will be captained by Ryan Jesperson of BT Television and Gene Principe of Sportsnet. This battle royale of stamina and sportsmanship will take place inside a custom 29-m x 13-m rink in a green park space located in downtown Edmonton.
"I don't know how much street hockey you played as a kid, but when you shoot the ball and miss the net, somebody's gotta run after it, or if a car comes … well, you know we're not going to have to worry about that stuff," he joked.
Kids are the very heart of this game as the two beneficiaries are Uncles and Aunts at Large and KidSport.
The challenge runs from noon to noon, Aug. 23 to 24, with a one-hour youngsters game preceding it at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The challenge will be at 102 Street and Jasper Avenue in Edmonton.
For more information, visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/inaugural-river-city-street-classic-24-hour-street-hockey-challenge-tickets-12202039629.
Erin Doyle Memorial Poker Run
Some local veterans and motorcycle enthusiasts are organizing a tribute to a fallen soldier and friend and it's happening this weekend.
It's the sixth annual Erin Doyle Memorial Poker Run, honouring its namesake who was a member of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Formerly of Legal, he was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in 2008.
"The poker run was started in 2009 to honour Erin's memory, and we are proud of the support it's received, both from participants, and sponsors," stated event founder Ollie Weeks. "It's been great to see the event grow over the years, with the funds raised going directly to support military families through Wounded Warriors."
Wounded Warriors Canada is a non-profit organization that helps Canadian Forces members — both full-time members or reservists — who have been wounded or injured in their service to Canada. It offers a wide range of programs and services to help soldiers in need, including a focus on PTSD and mental health issues. Its mandate is to help any veteran in need as they transition to civilian life.
Kevin Lloyd is the president of the Prairies' chapter of the Veterans' Paratroopers Motorcycle Club. He said that Wounded Warriors offers valuable assistance to "soldiers with visible and non-visible injuries that have come back from tours overseas, as well as support families of soldiers who were KIA [killed in action]."
The ride runs on Saturday from noon until it's done. An estimated 200 riders will start and finish at Kilroy's Pub in the Legal Hotel located at 4814 50 Ave. It makes stops in Barrhead, Egremont and Gibbons along the way. There will also be an after party with pig roast and live bands (including The Chickenheads and TrainWreck) at Kilroy's.
There are also prizes for the riders including $1,000 for four aces, $250 for best hand and $100 for the runner-up, plus a 50/50 draw, door prizes, and other prizes for the people's choice best bike, longest distance and burnouts.
Participation requires a $30 registration fee with all proceeds going to Wounded Warriors. More information can be found on their website at www.woundedwarriors.ca. To learn more about the organizers, visit www.vpmc-airborne.com.
For more information, call 780-961-3117.
