The 25th annual Teacher Student Benefit Hockey Game featured the an Initiation Program (IP) game between the Double Doubles and Iced Caps, the elementary school shootout and the main event, the game between Yorkton area students and teachers.
The event, held at the Farrell Agencies Arena, raised funds for Melville student Melissa Mish who is currently facing a medical crisis. This year a grand total of $7,500 was raised to help her with medical expenses incurred by her family.
Jaret Zelionka, event coordinator, says the event was started 25 years ago by area teacher Bob Metzler who remains one of the original members of the Professional As teacher hockey team. The event which supports an area student who needs medical attention gets bigger every year, Zelionka reports.
This year the student team comprised six students from each of three area high schools, Melville Comprehensive School, Sacred Heart High School and the Yorkton Regional High School. The student players were selected based on their sales of admission tickets to the game.
Along with the IP youngsters and the elementary shootout kids, the event saw 72 youngsters taking part in the event this year.
The teacher team, which had 18 players including guest player Jeff Odgers, plays regularly twice a week in the Yorkton recreational league throughout the season.
Zelionka expresses his appreciation to the major sponsors of the benefit game, Christ the Teacher Teachers' Association, McDonald's Restaurant and Parkland Printers as well as to the many local business sponsors.
The teacher team typically pays for the ice rental at the Farrell Agencies arena out of the players' pockets. For the past two years, Parker Quine LLP have covered the full cost of the ice rental which was much appreciated by the event organizers, Zelion-ka reports. As a result all of the proceeds collected were presented to the Mish family in their time of need, he adds.
As well Zelionka thanks all the hockey fans who took in the game which contributed to its success again this year.
"The final score in the game was 10-8 for the teachers. We always win," Zelionka closes.
