THUNDER BAY – Ten teams took boots to ice on Saturday to get their name on the coveted Wolfy’s Pond Cup while also raising money for a good cause.
The annual Wolfy’s Pond Cup Tournament has entered its 11th year and has raised $28,259 for charity since its humble beginning as a backyard tournament between friends.
Now held at the Vickers Heights Community Centre, the event was created by Darren Wolframe as a way for him and his friends to get together and play a little hockey while also raising money for charity programs like Easter Seals.
In 2021, the event shifted to focus fundraising on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“At the time, our youngest daughter was diagnosed with type one diabetes,” said Melanie Wolframe, Darren’s wife and co-organizer of the event.
“We'd already been doing the tournament for a number of years so we decided to switch fundraising efforts to the JDRF and it just became an easy decision for us. It's a good cause to raise money for.”
This year’s event had a great turnout with 40 players and their friends and family coming out to cheer them on. The event had prizes for participants thanks to the support of many local organizations.
“It's an amazing feeling having the support from the people who come out and do fundraising for us, who offer prizes and give their gift certificates, their services, monetary donations. Everything counts, everything matters,” Melanie said.
“And it's just wonderful to see and we appreciate everything.”
The winning team will get their names engraved on the Wolfy’s Pond Cup. This year, each member of the winning team will get to take home a miniature 3D-printed version of the cup.
For more information and photos of the tournament, visit its Facebook page.
