YORKTON – The Yorkton Maulers will host their annual charity game on Jan. 8 in a fundraising effort for Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer.
The annual fundraiser — dubbed Silver for Gold — will take place in the second of back-to-back matches against the Battlefords Stars.
"I'm just really impressed with multiple sports and multiple organizations working together for everybody to succeed – it's quite impressive how the community can come together," said Greg Donnelly, President of the Yorkton Maulers U18 Male AAA Hockey Club, of the fundraiser.
Special game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off and, in addition to the Silver for Gold game, one lucky shooter will have a shot at a $5000.00 scholarship.
"We're doing a guaranteed $5000.00 scholarship – guaranteed to go this year," said Donnelly.
"We did the $50,000 shootout in the last game before Christmas – nobody got it – the person that shot won a mountain bike as a consolation prize from Source for Sports," said Donnelly.
"The $5000.00 scholarship goes until the end of the season," said Donnelly, adding, "when the kids come in they get a red ticket – halfway through the first period a draw is made and the holder of the matching ticket gets to shoot between the second and third periods."
To win the scholarship, the lucky shooter has to put the puck through a small target hole placed over the net.
The contest runs until the end of the season and Donnelly said that if no one hits the target from now until then, the winner will be decided during the last game, with all former contestants having a chance to participate once again.
"One of those people will win it," said Donnelly.
The team has seen success this year under the guidance of head coach Darrell Mann.
"Last year the team had eight wins for the entire season and we broke last year's win record less than midway through this season," said Donnelly, adding, “we're on the right track — battling for a playoff spot — really tight competitive league this year.”
At the time of writing, the team is currently ninth in their division and two points out of a play off spot.
The Maulers host the Battlefords Stars at Westland Arena on Jan. 7 at 7:00 p.m. and again on Jan. 8 at 2:00 p.m. for the Silver for Gold Cancer Game.
