Neepawa Tigers focus on philanthropy

The Neepawa Tigers embody all that is bigger than hockey.

Over the last five years the Westman High School Hockey League squad has raised $20,350 to help different programs in Neepawa better support patients with cancer, serving as an annual reminder how big of an impact a community can make when everybody bands together, or attends a hockey game.

“We’re always just blown away by the support that we get,” said Tigers coach Troy Brister. “We’re blown away by the effort that our parents put in and our players put in and then we’re blown away by the support that our community gives to the game.”

Next Friday marks the sixth cancer care charity match Neepawa has hosted, as the Tigers will exchange their black and yellow sweaters for a pink one as they take on the Minnedosa/Erickson Chancellors at the Yellowhead Community Recreation Centre.

It’s a heartfelt tradition the program began in 2019, when Brister and fellow coach Mike Adams joined the fold.

“We just decided that we wanted to do a fundraising game and kind of make it an annual thing,” Brister said. “Obviously, it (cancer) touches just about everybody nowadays, so we thought it was a great opportunity to give back to our community.”

In their inaugural season, the team decided to plan a fundraising game and approached the Beautiful Plains Foundation for funds to buy pink jerseys. Without hesitation, the foundation agreed and the team ended up raising $750 through gate entry and 50-50, which went straight to the local chemotherapy unit.

The following year the Tigers had their season shut down due to COVID-19, however, they still managed to pull off a non-perishable food fundraiser for the local food bank. In 2021, though, Neepawa’s charity match returned and saw a $2,250 increase after raising $3,000.

Since then, the team has raised more than $5,000 each year, with last season’s totals coming up to $5700 thanks to all the community support.

Like it is on the ice, Brister said it takes a team effort to execute what they do every year, but noted it wouldn’t be possible without the parent volunteers who work tirelessly to make it happen.

“Every year, our parent group is phenomenal in terms of taking leadership roles and the fundraising activities that we do each year,” he said. “What we’re doing doesn’t happen without our parent group, so we’ve been very very fortunate.”

This season, the parents made birdseed wreaths to sell before Christmas with the money going toward the fundraising game set for the day prior to Valentines Day. They sold close to 146 of them.

In addition to the normal 50-50 and entry fees at the gate, they’ve also started a progressive 50-50 the last four years, which has sold out the past three seasons.

The players have also done their part too.

Brister said students have thought of creative ways to raise more money like selling candy bags at school during lunch break.

“Just anything at the game that allows us to raise money, we just donate back to the cause,” said Brister. “It’s just remarkable and the fact every cent has stayed in Neepawa is incredible too.”

On top of donating money to the chemotherapy wards, they’ve also supplied items the facility has needed like wheelchairs, ice makers and even gift cards to treat a patient to a Tim Hortons or Dairy Queen after they are done with their treatment. The money they’ve raised has also gone to programs such as the Victoria Quilts of Canada group and the Central Plains Cancer Services to help with mileage in transferring patients to and from Winnipeg and/or Brandon.

With all kinds of cancer services and programs in need of more help, Brister is hoping next week’s match is the most successful one yet.

“Our hope is that we can meet or pass the previous year’s total ($5,700),” he said. “That’s kind of always been our goal, but it’s hosted on the Valentine’s Day weekend, so you never know, right? There’s a lot going on so it’s always hard to tell how many people you’re going to get, but we’ve been fortunate since we started this, the community has really supported it.”

Social media presence and in true rural fashion, word of mouth has helped make the charity match the Tigers most attended game every year with around 400 to 500 fans in attendance.

“There’s no doubt about it that every single year there’s a buzz when this game comes around,” he said. “It’s a fun game to be a part of, the kids enjoy playing it and they know they’re making a difference, which is what we hope.”

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com