The annual Taylor Cup to Conquer Cancer pond hockey tournament returned to the snowy shores of Bayview Wildwood Resort on Saturday for its 18th year.
“It’s so great to be out here enjoying hockey, on a rink, with friends, families and the occasional beverage … Nothing’s more Canadian than this,” said Keith Clarke, director of corporate and community partnerships at the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
The Taylor Cup raises money to support the foundation, and proceeds this year will go toward research specifically for sarcoma.
“Sarcoma is a type of cancer that can occur in various locations in your body and is not generally known or studied about,” Clarke explained. “… So, the aim of today’s tournament is to raise funds to help us research and study this type of cancer.”
He noted it is the same type of cancer Terry Fox was diagnosed with.
Twenty teams took part in the tournament, and while the exact total raised hasn’t been confirmed yet, organizers estimate the event will bring in $80,000 to $100,000.
The top fundraising team from this year’s tournament is called Team Two, which has raised more than $23,000.
The fluctuating weather conditions over the past couple of weeks made organizers nervous.
“Last week, I wasn’t sure if it could happen when we had plus 14-degree weather, but then the weather changed and the grounds crew here were tremendous in making sure the rinks were in and are in tip-top shape for the tournament,” said Clarke.
More information about the tournament can be found here.
