At around one in the afternoon on Saturday, May 10th, the World’s Longest Hockey Game reached its 146th hour. The players, although tired and in extreme pain, continued to play like all-stars with smiles that lit up the entire arena.
Emotional stability is wavering due to increased physical activity and decreased sleep. Support is pouring in from all over which is keeping the players on their feet and reminding them why they’re here in the first place–for the kids.
“Well I can officially say I’m a mess,” writes Alex Halat in a social media post, “the game is really starting to take its toll on the guys.” A four-year-old with a brain tumor and a two-year-old sister with cerebral palsy came to show their support and thank the team for their efforts, and there have been more children who have depended on the Alberta Children’s Hospital who have come by as well.
Even at the late hours of the night or the bright and early hours in the morning, the team sees its support–and not necessarily from people. Handmade posters cheering the team on surround the players at all time, which are taped on to the glass.
Players playing with broken bones and blisters and still managing to smile when they score a goal or wave back to a cheering kid. The energy is tangible from the moment you enter the rink and even for some time after you leave it.
The ranges of support have come in all different ways, whether it be from direct donations to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, cheering the team on in the stands, or delivering goodies to the team, the players are grateful and it’s what keeps them strong. Some people have shown their support by attending the Benefit Concert at the red rink, which had all of the proceeds donated to the ACHF. On Mother’s Day, a team of kids got together and played their own World’s Longest Hockey Game from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. With a fundraising goal of $1500, the team of kids is donating all funds raised to the Hockey Marathon. Events such as this one appear impossible to onlookers, and truth be told, without the support of the people, it would be. It’s because of the town of Chestermere and surrounding areas coming together to make this event possible and to cheer the marathoners on that makes it possible.
If you can, the players would appreciate it if you took the time to donate whatever you can at the direct site using this shortened link: http://goo.gl/fVXuaF
