Poverty Awareness in York Region

Announcement / Change in venue

Whatever Happened To Road-hockey?!

Keep a Great Canadian tradition alive!!

The 4th annual Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Road Hockey Challenge starts Fri March 14 at 7 PM with a town councilors and recreation staff challenge held in the Newmarket Community Center ‘s north parking lots followed by an (doors open 8 pm) ‘Opening Face-Off Gala” inside the nearby New Granada Restaurant located at 209 Main St South Newmarket. Councilors, staff, ‘ringers”, and other challengers including a team from the MS Walk, will lead by example by getting out and playing in a mini tourney preceding the youth challenge which happens the following day. TP Entertainment’s ‘Grapes” Fisher will add some colour comedy play by play and drop the ceremonial opening face-off between Mayor Van Bynen and a youth player nominated for the $1500 Mike Thornhill Friendship Award. As well the national anthem will be sung by international singing sensation Newmarket’s own AVA who will also perform and attend a CD signing at The Granada Restaurant at 9 PM with 50% of sales going to this years causes PACC as well as Operation Sparrow a new fund for lower income families for kids to participate free in organized activities including karate, theatre school, ball hockey and transportation. Other Gala performers include Led Sullivan specializing in Neil Young, The Beatles, and other bands from that era.

The youth portion of the event takes place on Saturday March 15 2008 with registration from 9 AM – 10:30 AM in the community centre followed by the skills competition at 9:30 AM and tournament games beginning at 10:30 in the adjacent north parking lots. The finals and consolation start at 4 PM – 6 PM with more comedy antics from play by player ‘Grapes Fisher” and as well a live national anthem rendition. The event hopes to get youth active again through March-break as they prepare for Saturdays tourney all the while raising funds for great causes including one youth to win The Mike Thornhill Friendship Award given in honour of a former (Newmarket) Mulock Village resident where the tourney started, who’s life was tragically taken outside a donutshop. This $1500 education award will be given to one youth nominated by peers and chosen as the best example of showing leadership in community relationships and friendship building ability as opposed to hockey skills.