It’s being billed as the world’s longest street hockey game, and it’s shaping up to become just that.
As of press time, Youth Sticking Together was on pace to complete 105 hours, 17 minutes of street hockey to get into the book of Guinness World Records.
“They’re now on that downhill glide. It’s really time for the countdown to start,” said Tali Campbell, event organizer.
The Quality Foods World’s Longest Street Hockey Game is going on at the Lions Sports Centre lacrosse box next to the Nanaimo Curling Centre and faceoff was Friday morning. If everything goes to plan, the record will fall Tuesday (Aug. 12) at 5:17 p.m.
As of Monday morning, only one player had left the game due to injury. Everyone else has played through bumps, bruises, blisters and exhaustion.
“I’m so tired right now…” said Madison Boond, one of the players, at midnight Monday. “I know I sound like a hockey player, but you’ve just got to take it one shift at a time.”
A couple players have been slowed by heat stroke, but have rested and returned to action. Quick shifts and sunscreen would get them through another hot day Monday, Campbell said.
“We’re really pleased with the dedication of all these players…” he said. “We’re proud of every single one of them for how far they’ve come and we know they’re not quitting.”
Boond said everyone will stick with it and break the record.
“Oh yeah,” he said. “There’s no going back from here.”
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
The @QFLongestHockey was still going strong at midnight last night when I stopped by. Follow @BulletinSports… pic.twitter.com/EJjZwlwr1J
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) August 11, 2014