Border City Connects’ third annual Play it Forward charity hockey game will be held at Servus Sports Centre on April 19. File Photo
This year’s Play it Forward 12-hour charity hockey game promises to be another show of puckmanship, sportsmanship and citizenship.
The third annual event will take place on April 19 at the Servus Sports Centre to raise $70,000 for a new CareAvan for Border City Connects.
The game will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with 48 hockey players as well as two refs involved.
“The roster is all full and we’re all set to go,” said event founder and lead organizer Aaron Buckingham on Monday.
“No one takes themselves too seriously out there, but it’s still good hockey to watch.”
Fans should also expect to see a few outstanding dekes, or dirty dangles as they are called.
Buckingham says each of these players has to raise a minimum $500 donation to play in the game, but in practice, everybody goes way over that.
“Last year our top individual fundraiser was over $5,000. These guys have really got into it. It makes all the difference for Border City Connects,” said Buckingham.
“We will be live streaming this event all day with the ability for people to watch and donate as well as attend the Servus Sports Centre and watch live for a donation at the door.”
The Play it Forward hockey funder helps the non-profit organization update its fleet of passenger vans that take people to out-of-town medical appointments.
Border City Express buses transport persons with special needs or mobility issues around the city.
Buckingham says he got the idea for Play it Forward knowing Lloydminster loves hockey and community with the event combining both passions.
“I don’t like to take credit for any of this, but it’s the people and the players and the community that goes over the finish line here and they’ve never let us down yet,” said Buckingham.
He is also able to use his connections as Lloydminster Fire Department chief to rally support.
Funds from the first two charity hockey games helped pay for a new Express bus and a CareAvan.
The goal this year is to replace another high-use CareAvan.
“The last thing I want to see is somebody stuck on the side of the road on the way to a medical appointment,” said Buckingham.
“We want to make sure these units are up to snuff and everybody gets to where they need to go.”
Border City Connects executive director, Glenn Fagnan estimates the CareAvan fleet made 500 trips to Saskatoon and Edmonton in 2023.
“It’s a fantastic service. It’s pretty unique in terms of what the costs are,” he said.
“If you can get picked up at the door of your house and driven to the Royal Alex in Edmonton, waited for, then driven back to your front door for $130, that’s pretty good.”
He says one van has logged 400,000 kilometres and needs replacing and another one is in the 300,000 km range.
“We did get one from the Hospital Foundation in 2023 and that one’s at 80 k already,” said Fagnan.
“If you take a bus, you’re going to spend at least 24 hours. There are lots of people who are very thankful for the service.”
Fagnan says the drivers are all volunteers who develop good relationships with users.
“A lot of times, it’s the same driver taking the same people and they stop in Vegreville at Tim’s for a coffee and donut and sometimes passengers buy them lunch.”
Fagnan says he gives kudos to those players who come out to support the Play it Forward cause.
“It’s the players that have proven over the last two years that they are great community members and are contributing. These are people going over and above,” he said.
The top three players raising the most donations will be entered into a draw to win a cash prize of $500.
To donate, visit the Border City Connects website and click on the Play it Forward link to add funds to any player on the list and get an instant tax receipt.
“It’s quick and easy to donate, that’s for sure,” said Buckingham.
