Eddie Bush Memorial Arena was packed with Grade 8 and high school students Wednesday for the annual charity hockey games hosted by Our Lady of the Bay Catholic High School.
The crowd had plenty of opportunity to cheer for the home team as the girls’ team from Collingwood scored seven goals in the first game against Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School. The game ended with a score of 7-2 for Our Lady of the Bay.
The boys’ game finished with a tighter score of 2-1, with the team from Patrick Fogarty taking the win.
For 18 years, the local Catholic high school has hosted a charity tournament in support of cancer research. This year, the event raised more than $2,000 for a local family affected by cancer. Teacher and organizer Liz Payton said the organizing committee makes a decision on how to distribute the money each year based on local need. It’s always allocated to supporting families affected by cancer.
The games at the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena on Wednesday brought in about 600 or more young hockey fans, with Our Lady of the Bay students joined by Grade 8 students from two local Catholic elementary schools — St. Mary’s and St. Noel. Patrick Fogarty also stacked the stands with its own fans, bringing buses of students to cheer for the away teams.
This year’s event raised more than $2,000, surpassing Payton’s goal of $1,500.
