A team of Nanaimo hockey players are banking on some luck as they prepare for a charity game against the Montreal Canadiens alumni Feb. 18 at Frank Crane Arena.
Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank will ice a team that will take on Stéphane Richer, Patrice Brisebois, Marc-André Bergeron, Keith Acton and other members of the Habs fraternity. All proceeds will benefit the food bank, said Abby Sauchuk, Loaves and Fishes’ development officer and game organizer.
“The food bank feeds one in 10 people in Nanaimo in a year and the operations and cost of that are rather significant, so we’re really hoping for the first time ever, we were going to do one big, one-off fundraising event for ourselves and see if the community could come out and support us and the people in need,” said Sauchuk.
Our volunteers will be at the Clippers Games selling tickets to the Montreal Canadiens Alumni Charity Hockey Game every game. Come on down! pic.twitter.com/IK1Jr1CXhb
— Loaves and Fishes (@nanaimofoodbank) October 22, 2017
Hoping to defeat the Habs is a Loaves and Fishes team that includes Alex Counsell, Loaves’ operations manager, and Kyla Hartnell, sister of Nashville Predators player Scott Hartnell. Leon Cake and Robin Edwards will be behind the bench.
Tickets are $20 and there is a VIP package for $75, which includes a catered lunch, and VIP prime package for $300, which includes a chance to meet the Canadiens after the game.
“The post-game event will be dinner at [Nanaimo Golf Club] with the Montreal Canadiens alumni and you’re actually going to have a reception with them for pictures and autographs and then you’re going to have a … dinner and they will sit at your table with you,” said Sauchuk.
The game takes place Feb. 18 at Frank Crane Arena. Doors open at 12:45 p.m., pre-game entertainment starts at 1:45 p.m. and puck will drop at 2:30 p.m.
Sauchuk said there will also be face painting, balloons and crafts for the children.
As of Thursday morning, more than 1,000 tickets had been sold, according to Sauchuk.
For ticket information, visit www.nanaimoloavesandfishes.org. Tickets may also be purchased by cash or cheque between 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Loaves and Fishes warehouse at 210 Fry St.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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