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Nanaimo plays hockey in support of Humboldt

Humboldt Strong Street Hockey Tournament held Sunday, April 22 at Nanaimo North Town Centre

Nanaimo played some hockey to try to provide some measure of help for Humboldt.

The Humboldt Strong Street Hockey Tournament was held Sunday in the Nanaimo North Town Centre parking lot.

Youths and adults faced off in the charity tournament, organized in support of the Humboldt Broncos junior A hockey team that was involved in a bus crash in which 16 people died earlier this month in Saskatchewan.

Angela Eaves, one of the event’s organizers, said about 300 people came out from Nanaimo and communities across the Island, including Port Alberni, Courtenay and Victoria and about 200 of those played hockey.

Numbers are still being tallied up, Eaves said, but about $7,000 was raised from the event, which wrapped up around 3 p.m.

“It was an awesome turnout and people are already asking for it again next year,” she said.

Eaves said the organizers had an idea the event would be well-received in Nanaimo where hockey is popular and each year’s event could possibly support a different cause.

“We’ve tossed ideas around about maybe starting a scholarship fund for local hockey students’ post-secondary. That’s one idea, or also local charities. I’m sure something would come up in that time or just pick something in the community to gear the money towards,” Eaves said.