聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Wawota will proudly be hosting their 3rd Annual Sledge Hockey Tournament beginning in the evening on Friday, April 1, and running through to Sunday, April 3.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The event began in 2014 with Melanie Brimner wanting to do something so her sons could play hockey together.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 She told The Observer in 2014, 鈥淭he reason I wanted to hold this was for my son. He was in a car accident seven years ago, that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 doing it鈥� I wanted to see my son play and my boys have never played hockey together.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎lso, there鈥檚 a few guys in the community with cerebral palsy that have never played [hockey] before so it鈥檚 just a good way to get people on the ice that have never had the opportunity.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It has since grown into a fundraiser in the community with Wawota Sledge Hockey giving to the Wawota Community Forum, STARS, and more. Although it has grown the sentiment is the same, to get everyone out playing hockey together.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year the Wawota Sledge Hockey Facebook page states, 鈥淥ur tournament is not only to raise awareness about people with Spinal Cord Injuries it is also to raise awareness for people that have any other form of disabilities that prevents them from playing Canada鈥檚 most favoured game, hockey!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Teams are to be made up of four players, three players play out and one goalie, and will be played on half ice at the Wawota Forum. The chairs and sticks will be provided by the Avengers, a Regina Sledge Hockey team. The game will consist of two, fifteen minute straight time periods.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Entry fees for teams will be $100 and teams can be registered by contacting 306-577-7484.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Throughout the weekend there will also be 50/50 draws, an auction table, and a bar. They are also accepting donations, which can be made payable to Wawota Sledge Hockey. This year the monies raised will be donated to the Wawota Community Forum, Stars Air Ambulance, and the Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association on behalf of Chris Pearson who lost his battle with cancer in December.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽聽
