The Estevan Strippers Molson “Spring Bust” Tournament will not only bring 40 teams to the Energy City from April 6 to 10 for games on the ice, but will also raise thousands of dollars for community causes off it.
Rick Rohatyn, an organizer of the tournament, said 20 of the 40 participating teams will play in the aged 30-and-over conference, 12 squads will compete in the 45-plus conference and eight teams will play in the women's conference. He said each of the conferences are broken down into four-team divisions, with each of these receiving sponsorship from local businesses.
“Our businesses are very gracious,” said Rohatyn. “They see that the Strippers contribute back to the community with a lot of donations and, in fact, we've (given) over $150,000 back to the community in the last 15 years. Last year alone we gave over $18,000 back to the community.”
Rohatyn said the Strippers donated $12,500 to the Estevan 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games committee last year. He said they also contributed $7,500 in sponsorship to the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup.
A team's tournament entry fee covers the cost of renting the ice at Affinity Place, the Lignite Miners Centre and the Civic Auditorium for the four days of play. Local businesses contribute the amount that is spent on buying prizes for each team, which comes out to $300 for each division.
Rohatyn said the Strippers raise money at the tournament through their cabarets and raffles. He said last year their silent auction items contributed heavily to their fundraising efforts, with a package of four owner's box seats for an Arizona Coyotes game as well as an Oliver Ekman-Larsson signed jersey and hockey stick emerging as a big seller having gone for $2,000.
“All those silent auction items go directly back into...the charity of the choice of the donor,” he said. “This year we have a Wayne Gretzky autographed jersey, which is probably going to be a big hit. All that money goes right back into the community. We, the Strippers, take nothing out of that.”
There are no top-of-mind community causes as the Stippers head into their annual tournaments, noted Rohatyn. He said they usually just donate to causes as they come along.
“We just give lots of money away,” he said. “When you see one of our programs at the tournament, it will list all the donations we've made in the last five years. That way we get the word out to the people who come from out of town (that this tournament) is not just for the Stippers, it's for the community.”
