Hockey Helps the Homeless hosting ninth annual tournament
Posted Oct 21, 2022 09:00:00 PM.
Local fundraising teams and former athletes will lace up their skates as the ninth annual Hockey Helps the Homeless (HHTH) tournament will be held at RIM Park on Oct 28.
The money raised from the tournament will go toward homelessness charities in Waterloo Region. Each team will has one former NHlLer or Olympian, 14 skaters and a goalie. Currently, there are 16 teams, over 240 players and 18 pros, including former players from Team Canada, Team USA, the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
According to HHTH, there are over 3,000 people who are homeless on any given night. In the eight years of the tournament, HHTH has raised over $1.6 million, which adds up to 21,000 shelter bed nights in Waterloo Region. This year's fundraising goal is $250,000, with just over $147,000 having been raised as of Oct 21.
Rob Way, Chair of the Hockey Helps the Homeless Waterloo Region Volunteer Committee and Craig Herner, Vice-Chair of Hockey Helps the Homeless Waterloo Region said on the Mike Farwell Show on Wednesday that the tournament is aiming to raise two million dollars by next year.
“We absolutely had to raise that number because the need is out there and it's even greater now,” said Wray. “Our goal is to hit the two million dollar mark next year, and I know we can do it in this community.”
A new Draft night event will take place on Oct 27, where each team drafts their pro. The order is determined by which team raises the most money. There will also be a Q&A panel with the pros and an online auction that will end on Oct 28 at 9 p.m.
Anyone looking to register for a team or find more information can visit HHTH's website.
