Last Friday, the Lakeland College King's Energy Group Rustlers Hockey Club hosted the Lloydminster and area Women's All-Star team in a charity game to support the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
Last Friday night’s Lakeland College King’s Energy Group Rustlers Hockey Club game was a bit out of the ordinary, but it was for a great cause and fun was had by all.
The Rustlers faced off against the Lloydminster and area Women’s All-Star Team at the Russ Robertson arena for Hockey Fights Cancer Night, a fundraiser in collaboration with the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation (LRHF).
All funds raised at the game went towards the LRHF cancer ward.
“For one of our players and one of our coaching staff, cancer has hit close to home this winter, so with that, we wanted to do something to support us as a group, and them,” said Rustlers head coach Morgan Mann.
“Warren Noble, my fellow coach, got the ball rolling to put a game on, and then Erin Lundrigan organized the all-star team as she plays rec hockey in the community.”
Mann explained the team approached the LRHF with the idea for a charity game, which they were quite receptive to.
“We wanted to have the money raised stay local and do something here that benefitted our community,” said Mann. “When we approached Malcolm and the Health Foundation they were very receptive to doing something together, and we were really pleased with how it turned out.”
When all was said and done, a total of roughly $3,300 was raised, something Mann and Radke were pleased with.
“This is awesome to see this group come together and raise a bunch of cash for us,” said Radke.
“Three grand is amazing and we didn’t know what to expect and we’ve been blown away.
“The stands are full and everyone’s smiling and having a good time enjoying some good hockey.”
Admission to Friday’s game was by donation, so attendees were encouraged to donate what they could.
“The team’s coaches approached us with the idea and said they wanted to keep the funds local,” said Radke.
“We have the chemo ward in the local hospital; it’s a regional department, so it serves anybody from as far as Vermilion and Marwayne, over to Maidstone, St. Walburg, Neilburg, to the Chauvin area.
“It serves over 200 people per year, and the funds aren’t for cancer research, but for taking care of the patients as they go through chemo treatment and making sure they’re as comfortable as possible, and making sure the chemo nurses have as much professional development and education as they need.”
