BEACHBURG — A familiar fundraising hockey game will be played for the final time this Saturday night at the Beachburg Arena, but under a new name.
The Art Johnson/Gary Ryan Oldtimers Hockey Game will be played at 6 p.m. between the familiar Greenwood and Beachburg Oldtimers hockey teams.
“This is the 15th year and the final year,” said Dan Buchanan, one of the organizers of the familiar event. “Gary started it and organized it and he died last year.”
The two teams are from the former Laurentian Hockey League, Mr. Buchanan said.
“It was like a men’s senior hockey,” he said.
When Mr. Johnson died, Gary Ryan thought a hockey game between rivals Greenwood and Beachburg Oldtimers would be a great fundraiser for Roger’s House, Mr. Buchanan recalled. For this year, Gary Ryan’s name was added to the event.
It’s expected by evening’s end, $50,000 will have been raised for Roger’s House over the 15 years, he said.
Over the 14 years, Greenwood has won the trophy eight times, Beachburg five times, and they tied once. There will be no winner this year, Mr. Buchanan said.
The final plaque that was added to the trophy prior to Saturday’s game read Thanks Gary, Rogers House 2016. It will be on the front of the trophy and on either side will be Beachburg and Greenwood plaques. It’s expected the trophy will be presented to the Ryan family for safe keeping.
Mr. Buchanan said the same group of sponsors and contributors have been donating towards this fundraiser and now it’s time to retire it.
“It’s run its course,” he said. “The two teams were always alumni. I was a young player and now the players are getting old. Gary played until his 80s.”
He noted many of the alumni are in their 60s, 70s and 80s.
The game has always been a lot of fun, Mr. Buchanan said.
“There’s a lot of penalties,” he said with a laugh. “It’s an odd and crazy hockey game.”
There is no admission fee to attend the game, but donations will be accepted at the door. Following the game Saturday night, there will be a live auction at the Beachburg Lions Hall with Grant Robertson as the auctioneer. There will also be pizza and refreshments for sale, he said.
For anyone who would like to donate to the auction, there will be someone at the Lions hall after 5 p.m. for drop-off, he said.
