Last Saturday’s hockey jamboree – which aimed to raise money for Surrey’s Keddie family – fell shy of matching last year’s fundraising total, but organizers are hoping a post-tournament push will help them reach their goal.
Semiahmoo Minor Hockey’s initiation-division teams hit the ice Saturday for their annual jamboree, which – aided by donation boxes set up at the event – raised $900.
According to event co-ordinator Jay Frost, increased attractions and activities at the event, which was held at Centennial Arena, meant higher expenses, which cut slightly into the bottom line.
“We had some higher expenses this year, with more bouncy castles for the kids, stuff like that,” explained Frost, who organized the jamboree with his wife, Erin.
“But it was still a big success. It went really well, and everybody had a good time.”
On the ice, Frost said the young players – ranging in age from five to seven years old – were treated “like NHL players.”
Lights and lasers announced teams’ entry onto the ice, and players’ names were broadcast over the Centennial Arena loudspeaker.
Last year’s event – which raised money for Haiti’s earthquake-recovery effort – raised nearly $1,500.
This year, organizers decided to use money raised to help the Keddie family, whose 20-month-old daughter, Ava, died as a result of a house fire earlier this month.
Frost hoped that donations would continue to trickle in throughout the week, to help get the total amount raised to at least last year’s total.
“We were a little bit shy, but we’re hoping we can increase (the numbers) a little bit still,” he said.
Anyone interested in donating can call Frost at 604-307-9764 or email frostent@mac.com
