Earning the right to host a community-wide party and skate with NHL legend Jarome Iginla as a result of their volunteer work so far this year wasn’t enough for the Dalmeny U15 Sabres.
The team decided to go even further, raising $3,600 for charities in their own and three other communities in Saskatchewan.
The Sabres hosted the ‘Give-Back Cup’, a fundraising hockey tournament in Dalmeny in late March, pulling in teams from Brandon, Melfort, Battleford, Lashburn, Outlook and La Ronge.
“After we were honoured to win the ‘Practice with a Pro’ contest with the Dr. Oetker Pizza company, we decided to promote Dalmeny and give back to the game and the community,” said Sabres assistant coach Jim Aune. “Because the big event with Jarome Iginla isn’t until April 13, and our hockey season ended in mid-March, we thought we’d stretch out the season by hosting a fun tournament.”
Aune said the team had a kitty of money raised for a tournament that had been cancelled. They decided to build on that by raising additional funds and donating everything to charity. The registration fees for the charity tournament, as well as money from a silent auction and 50-50 draw, all went into the pot. At the end of the tournament, the money was divided equally among the gold, silver and bronze-winning teams, as well as the winner of the relegation game. Each team then donated its share to a charity of their choice in their home community. The Sabres donated their share to the Ben Stelter Foundation, a charity that helps families who have children battling cancer.
Aune said in addition to the games, the tournament also featured a skills competition, and offered players an opportunity to mingle with each other on ice in a social setting between events. It promoted a spirit of camaraderie in addition to friendly competition.
Aune added that the April 13 event is a community-wide event.
DALMENY U15 SABRES SELECTED FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
On April 13, the Dalmeny arena will host the 2nd Dr. Oetker’s Giuseppe Practice with a Pro event – and a lucky Saskatchewan minor hockey team will be rewarded with an on-ice practice alongside hockey legend Jarome Iginla, and a Giuseppe pizza party for the local community. In late 2023, people in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were invited to nominate their favourite youth hockey team, with the winning entry given the chance to practice with one of hockey’s greatest teammates. After reviewing submissions from all three provinces, the U15 Dalmeny Sabres were chosen because of their extensive volunteer work in their community. They learned they were selected after getting a video message from Jarome Iginla himself.