Charity dek hockey tournament going on in Oakmont, Banksville this weekend
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A charity dek hockey tournament benefiting the American Cancer Society is going on this weekend at Oakmont and Banksville rinks.
The annual Hockey for Life contest has returned to Riverside Park in Oakmont after a year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Organized by Riverview Dek Hockey, the nonprofit home of the Riverview Raptors youth teams, 38 teams from across Western Pennsylvania and as far as Chicago have signed up to play.
Games began July 22 and were set to continue through July 25.
“It feels good (to be back),” said Raptors president Ryan Rose. “A lot of the kids and people in our organization were really bummed (last year), as well as a lot of the teams that participate in it because they look forward to it every year. We started with 25 teams participating when we began. Once the word got out, everybody’s been coming.”
The tournament originally started as a fundraiser for two families of terminally ill patients in 2015.
Rose said Nancy “Moochie” Donatucci, a cancer survivor, reached out about partnering with Relay for Life the following year, and the connection has remained strong ever since.
Teams are split into three divisions, Penguins (ages 7-9), Beavers (10-12) and Cadets (13-15).
The Raptors and the Penn Hills Arsenal teams went up against the Cranberry Screaming Eagles on July 23 at Riverside Park.
Jason McDermott of Leechburg is the assistant coach of the Penn Hills Cadet A team. He said helping out the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life is very personal for him.
“I lost both of my parents (Harry and Mary Lou McDermott) to cancer at a young age,” he said. “I think everybody is aware of cancer now, but just doing something about it and being an active participant while being with your friends and having fun is a really, really good thing. Our ball hockey season is super long. To be able to take the time to do something like this and give back is really good.”
The tournament is one of many fundraising efforts this year leading up to Relay for Life of Riverview.
Rose said the goal was to raise $7,000 via basket raffles, food sales and a portion of the proceeds from team entry fees.
The tournament was organized by Rose, his wife and team manager Amanda Rose, Raptors vice president Harry Otley and secretary Kevin Keller.
Relay for Life of Riverview is scheduled for 4 to 10 p.m. Aug. 7 at Riverside Park.
Registration and information is available at relayforlife.org/pariverview or 800-227-2345.
More information about the tournament is available at the Riverview Dek Hockey Facebook page.