Your Sports: Charities score big on weekend

Recreational hockey teams from both Concordia and the Tuck School of Business of New Hampshire took to the ice to help raise money for local charities Saturday at the Ed Meagher Arena.
The tournament, which has become an annual event, raised funds for both Easter Seals and Sun Youth. A large crowd was on hand to make donations of money and food and to take in some exciting hockey put on by both schools. By the time the zamboni made it’s final lap, about $1,000 was raised.
“It’s a nice break during the intramural season,” said Mike Rinaldi, league coordinator for campus recreation at Concordia. “It also raised money for charity, which is the main focus rather than hockey.”
The tournament was once an invitational event called the BA Hockey Tournament, where different business schools at Harvard, Tuck, McGill and Concordia would play for charity. It has now been reduced to just Concordia and Tuck, but the response is still positive.
“It’s never at the same time every year, but whenever they can bring in teams,” said Rinaldi. “Last year, we raised around $1200.”
Rinaldi said that the tournament is also a good way to keep contacts alive between the two schools and to showcase intramural sports at Concordia.
For the second straight year, two women’s teams have also participated. The second game of the day, easily the most exciting, saw the Concordia Honey Bees tie their Tuck counterparts 1-1. The game could not be decided in overtime.
Martin Devey, head coach of the Bees, said he was proud to see how the team has improved since their conception two years ago.
“Just watching them is fun,” he said. “They’ve put a lot of time and effort into practicing on their own. The girls have gotten a lot better and I’m proud of them.”
The team has held regular practices on Sundays. A game situation is a rarity, but the team did rise to the occasion.
“It’s a good way to introduce them to the game,” said Devey, who coaches the squad along with his brother Patrick. “Some of them have never put on a pair of skates before.”
The Bees will be competing in an upcoming, four-on-four tournament at the UniversitZ de MontrZal.
In other action, the Concordia “A” team defeated the Tuck Division “B” squad 12-1, while Tuck Division “A” defeated the Concordia “B” team 13-6.