ChildCan hockey tournament on tap this weekend

By Mark Ribble

WHEATLEY — The 27th annual ChildCan Hockey Tournament will get underway on Friday evening, as 19 adult teams roll into Wheatley to vie for cash, prizes and bragging rights.

Seven women’s teams will take to the ice starting Friday, February 18 with the championship being contested on Sunday afternoon.

An additional 12 men’s teams will split into three divisions, with each division having its own skill level. The men’s Open division will be joined by an Intermediate division and a Recreational division with four teams in each group.

Of course, the real winners from the weekend will be the worthy Child- Can charity and those it serves. ChildCan provides services and assistance to families dealing with childhood cancer.

With the format and schedule all set, organizer Mark Epplett is hoping that fans of hockey will come out to watch.

They had to scrap the usual upstairs bar and entertainment due to COIVID restrictions, but Epplett is confident that the weekend will run smoothly.

“We don’t have enough volunteers to police the numbers to have a bar,” he said. “And I really don’t want to put that onto my volunteers.”

ChildCan 2020 play between the Dirty Dozen and the Stumblebums at Wheatley Arena.

SUN file photo

So the decision was made to forego the bar for this year with hopes of being back to normal when next February rolls around.

One thing that won’t change is the fun competition provided by the hockey being played.

The ChildCan tournament has long been a staple of the Wheatley adulty hockey community and despite this past summer’s disaster and COVID still lingering, Epplett says he’s looking forward to seeing some good hockey.

A realignment of the divisions in 2020 made for a much more exciting event.

The 2020 event raised about $2,500 for the charity, but the 2021 event had to be cancelled due to COVID lockdowns.

The tournament kicks off Friday at 5:45 pm in the Rec Division as Johnston Net and Twine takes on the Firefighters.

Finals are Sunday afternoon with four games on tap.

SCHEDULE

Friday 5:45 pm Rec Johnston vs Firefighters

Friday 6:45 pm Int Verns vs Mooseknuckles

Friday 7:45 pm Women2 Hot Pantz vs Blenheim

Friday 8:45 pm Open Hunt Club vs Quicks

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Saturday 8:30 am Women2 Snipeshow vs Brad’s Angels

Saturday 9:30 am Rec Stumblebums vs Dirty Dozen

Saturday 10:30 am Int Wheatley vs Tilbury

Saturday 11:30 am Women1 Stick Figures vs Laramie Ladies

Saturday 12:30 pm Open Windsor Wings vs Custom Cuts

Saturday 1:30 pm Rec Johnston vs Stumblebums

Saturday 2:30 pm Women2 Hot Pantz vs Snipeshow

Saturday 3:30 pm Int Verns vs Tilbury

Saturday 4:30 pm Open Windsor Wings vs Hunt Club

Saturday 5:30 pm Int Wheatley vs Mooseknuckles

Saturday 6:30 pm Rec Firefighters vs Dirty Dozen

Saturday 7:30 pm Women1 Laramie Ladies vs Here for Beer

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Sunday 9:00 am Open Custom Cuts vs Quicks

Sunday 10:00 am Women1 Here for Beer vs Stick Figures

Sunday 11:00 am Women2 Blenheim vs Brad’s Angels.

Sunday 12 noon Rec Final Sunday 1:15 pm Intermediate Final Sunday 2:30 pm Open

Final Sunday 3:45 pm Women’s Final