The Flying Fathers have been challenged by The Knights of Columbus and Waubuno Shrine Club to raise funds for three local charities.
Local players from these and other clubs have teamed up to be known as The Eager Beavers.
The event has been spearheaded former Councillor and community activist, Wayne Cormier in bringing the team to play hockey in town.
Councillor Doug McCann is involved in the project and says the team was originally created in the 60s and founded by Father Brian McKee and Father Les Costello. Costello played in the NHL in 1948 and brought the Stanley Cup home to Toronto.
“When Father McKee was ordained, he was stationed in North Bay, and the way the story goes, one of the kids, either an altar boy or a child in the parish that he was at, sustained a head injury and the priests wanted to raise money to help the family pay for the surgery,” McCann said.
McCann adds that Father McKee decided to hold a hockey match between the priesthood and celebrity hockey players which ended up raising over $5,000 for the boy to have surgery. McCann adds that the Flying Fathers team has raised millions of dollars for various events all over North America.
In January of last year, McCann says that Father Perdue of Peterborough revived the team and they’re coming to town next month to support three worthy causes.
McCann says Hospice West Parry Sound, Hope Pregnancy Support Centre Parry Sound and Habitat for Humanity Parry Sound Chapter are the beneficiaries sharing in the proceeds of the charity hockey tournament.
McCann said the Tykes division of the local Parry Sound House League will be playing and will have the rink split into quarters where the kids will be playing four different games.
McCann chuckled as he quoted Costello when he said, “”the reason we win is because we cheat.” The objective is to throw the rule book out and just have fun.”
The tournament is February 20th at the Bobby Orr Community Centre. The puck drops at 6:30pm.