Girls hockey shines as more than $400K raised at annual Play For A Cure in LaSalle
The fourth edition of Play For A Cure has concluded with a record $404,000 being raised for cancer research efforts.
“Absolutely awesome,” organizer Jeff Casey said on the fundraising efforts of the community.
The final total is expected to be higher once merchandise, silent auction and raffle sales are also included.
“Woody’s Hoodies did an incredible fundraiser for the last month and they announced last night at the All-Star game that they raised $12,720," said Casey, who also received cheques from various community members.
A cancer survivor, Casey’s efforts has helped raise more than $1.6 million dollars since 2019.
The three-day, pro-am hockey event kicked off Thursday at Caesars Windsor with a draft involving former NHL and Olympic stars such as Gary Roberts, Adam Graves, Meghan Agosta and Angela James.
A pro-am hockey tournament was held Friday at the Vollmer Complex and featured a shootout with YouTube stars Zac Bell and Pavel Barber followed by an All-Star game.
Money raised helps fund collaborative cancer research in our community.
“The work that the Terry Fox Foundation has done around cancer research is shockingly amazing and we’re able to partner with them now to bring money from them back into Windsor to help do clinical trials for our cancer patients," said Casey.
Building excitement on women's hockey
Agosta helped run the girls' skills event Saturday at the Vollmer Complex.
“Girls' hockey has come a long way and it’s amazing to see the one league now, the PWHL, something these girls can strive and dream about,” the four-time Olympian said.
Girls between the ages of nine and 18 took part in sessions run by some of the world’s best female hockey players to ever skate including Agosta, Team USA's Megan Bozek, Team Canada's Sami Jo Small and Hockey Hall of Famer Angela James.
Professional women’s hockey has had many stop and starts throughout the years but the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) seems to have hit its stride and is creating a lot of excitement.
Attendance records have been broken numerous times this season including close to 14,000 fans attending a game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit between Ottawa and Boston in March.
“Even today skating on the ice, a little girl goes ‘My dream was to play for the Edmonton Oilers. But now, with the PWHL, her dream now is to play in that league," Agosta said.
Carrie Sekela, former captain at Dartmouth College and head coach of the Windsor Lancers, saw the excitement for women’s hockey in the morning session with a group of girls ages nine to 10.
“They just couldn’t wait to get on the ice with the big stars. Just the energy alone, and getting their jerseys signed, it’s clear the temperature is hot for girls' hockey," said Sekela.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.