Worlds Longest Hockey game IV

It’s a hockey team made up completely of ‘losers’ – and I say that with the utmost and deepest respect.

The forty guys who are playing in the Worlds Longest Hockey Game IV have all been touched by losing a family member or a close friend to cancer.

It’s why they lace it up – play through almost unbearable conditions – and help raise funds in this most grueling manner possible until, as Dr. Brent Saik says, “they find a cure for it.”

The next marathon happens on February 11th and they will play for over 240 hours – or “a full NHL season for one team.”

The game is played on Brent’s property in south east Sherwood Park. It’s easy to find if you’d like to come out and cheer the warriors on.

More than 800 volunteers make it happen. Zamboni drivers; nurses; doctors; friends; family; and ‘you’ are the ingredients that make it happen.

Many of the guys have played in multiple games; 4 guys have done them all – and they’re not ‘kids’ friends – they’re age range is large. Most have to take time off work or spend their personal holiday time to do this – and ‘nobody’ complains or the rest of the team simply reminds them ‘you don’t know pain until you’ve had cancer.’

Dr. Saik’s friends loyalty is immense. Team 1260 host Jason Gregor tells the story of how beat up he felt in the middle of the night one very cold night – lonely and tired – when a Dad and his 12 year old son walked up to the team bench and said hello. The youngster pulled off his toque to display his recently shaved head from the Alberta Cancer ward he was in and proudly handed over his piggy bank filled with donations for the cause.

“It’s that type of magic that touches you and helps you get the adrenalin going to get back on the ice and stop feeling sorry for yourself. These guys would go to the wall for Brent. They all ‘get it’ Jason says.

Global Televisions Kevin Karius chimes in. “In 2005, nobody was really sure what to expect. To play for 10 days straight was such a daunting task. The math is pretty simple. Each player is on the ice for 80 out of the 240 hours. When you factor in the conditions, it is extremely exhausting. The night shifts are the most difficult, and the most rewarding. It is very quiet, very lonely. You think a lot about friends and family with cancer. You learn so much about yourself.

In 2008, it was different. We had done it once before. Everything was in place until the weather turned absolutely unbearable. One night it was -51 with the wind chill.”

Brent’s set up is amazing at the rink. It’s fully equipped with everything possible to care for the players comfort and safety. Guys play with frostbite covering their blistered heals. A hot tub ‘helps’ hold off the pain. The Volunteers are there not only to look after their physical needs but to cheer them on and to help keep their spirit’s high. It’s an immense job.

These guys play through almost every weather extreme possible during the game. From bitter cold to high winds to blinding snow storms and its actually the ‘good weather’ thats ‘bad news for the guys as the ice starts to melt and makes it even more difficult on rubbery legs.

I asked Brent why he puts so much in to it?

It may sound like a dumb question but something of this magnitude takes not only an immense amount of time but a ton of money and expertise.

His answer was simple. “To give back. I’m surrounded by good friends – and we’ve raised a ton of money in the past and we want to virtually double it this time out. The pain is worth it. Ask any of the guys.”

What do you need help with Brent?

More referees! Your donations!

Where do you go from here Brent – you can only continue to do this for so long without a twist?

"We’ve talked about taking it ‘inside’ but the guys and I all know it would change the scope of the event. The bitter cold. The aching pains. The hot tub. The fans and the bands in the stands all bundled up cheering. As strange a it sounds it just wouldn’t feel the same indoors."

I’m betting the guys agree.

As Kevin says “If 40 players and tons of volunteers can put on an event of this magnitude to save just one life, it’s all worth it.”

If you’d like to see some excellent video of the last Worlds Longest Hockey Game go to You Tube and search for a very good series that our own Edmonton Sun’s Nathan Martin helped put together. He spent a great deal of time talking to participants both on and off the ice and each highlighted his or her involvement in this most worthy project.

The video’s say it way better than I can with the written word.

Pledges can be accepted at http://albertacancer.ca/worldslongestgame at any time or http://youtube.com/buttonmasherfilms09

You can also call Brent’s office to donate – at 780 417 3003.

There’s a major uptick in sponsorship this year but its the personal dollars raised from each of us that really makes a difference. And ‘yes’ – they take piggy banks! Get your kids involved too!

And by the way, nobody even seems to care about it actually beating their last Guinness Book of Records. The game is played for very private and personal reasons.

It’s all about ‘the friends and family we’ve lost.’

Please support this amazing project.