ED ZAHARICHUCK HOPE CHALLENGE MINI

The Edmonton old timers hockey community is growing every year; it is great to come together and meet;  many know each other from our paths crossing in the hockey community over the years. The annual “Ed Zaharichuk Hope Challenge” is just one of Ed’s contributions to senior hockey. HOPE stands for Human Organ Procurement Exchange.

Ed was a rock solid defenseman with Vintage, who loved the friendly competitiveness that senior hockey offered him. In the photo, 

In December 1994, he recevied a new heart. Ed was able to play hockey for 5 more years. Due to health issues, Ed had to forsake his hockey playing days but not his involvement with Vintage. Ed focused his energies towards the organizational aspects of Vintage and served in various capacities including president. Ed’s organizational and leadership skills played a vital role in making Vintage one of the premiere senior hockey organizations in Alberta.

Ed Zaharichuk organized the initial Hope Challenge Hockey Days,  Ed’s purpose for organizing the tournament was to provide us with the opportunity to play hockey and enjoy the camaraderie, as well as to raise awareness for the Hope Organ Donor Program. Initially the challenge was between Edmonton and Calgary Old-timer organizations. More recently this event features teams from the Edmonton area. As you look at the photos for the annual Hope Challenge Hockey Days, decide whether the games were spirited and sportsmanship was clearly evident. 

If you wish to donate your organs or body tissues for transplant or medical research sign the back of your Alberta Personal Health Card. 

Vintage Hope Challenge players are selected to promote camaraderie with hosted teams. In this spirit, selected players will be in a similar age bracket as the hosted teams they play against. The teams meet in the Kinsmen Arenas sports bar for lunch after the tournament. In 2016, the Boga Sports Bar became the Y.E.G. Upper Deck Pub. 

Starting in 2017 Buttercup Bistros‘, Darlene Donahue, has catered the luncheon in the Kinsmen Arenas lobby.

December 6/7, 2018

Vintage hosted 4 Mini Tournaments with 4 teams. Each tournament played a round robin.

Bob Tessier reports: “Thank you all for your efforts making our annual Hope Hockey Days the best ever.

We hosted eight guest team, ran four luncheons, handled 24 mini-games, fed over 250 guys.”

Standings:

Tournament 1   

Team                              Pts

Zone 5 70/75's             9

Golden Eagles              5

Vintage Oilers              2

Vintage Blues               1

Tournament 2   

Team                              Pts

Vintage Islanders         6

New Sarepta                 5

Red Rangers                 4

Vintage Sharks             3

Tournament 3  

Team                              Pts

Edmonton Flyers         9

Vintage Selects            5

North 50 All-Stars       4

Zone 6 60's                   0

Tournament 4 

Team                              Pts

North Side Falcons      8

Hockey Allusion           5

U of A Old Bears          3

Vintage Swaybacks     2

Donation boxes were provided for:

• Winter Clothing Drive
• Edmonton Food Bank
• ​Santa's Anonymous.

Photos provided are from Tournament 2.

December 1, 2017

Vintage hosted 3 Mini Tournaments with 4 teams. Each tournament played a round robin.

Donation boxes were provided for:

• Winter Clothing Drive
• Edmonton Food Bank
• ​Santa's Anonymous
  

December 4, 2015

Vintage hosted four Edmonton teams, Hockey Allusion, North Side Falcons, Golden Eagles & Sherwood Park Lancers for our annual “Ed Zaharichuk Hope Challenge”.

The results were:

December 7, 2012

Vintage hosted four Edmonton teams, Golden Eagles, Falcons, Allusions and Lancers for our annual “Ed Zaharichuk Hope Challenge”.

True to Ed’s nature all four games were spirited and a sense of fair play and sportsmanship was clearly evident in all matches. 

Following the games most everyone had a beverage or two, replaced the calories burned playing hockey with a delicious lunch and exchanged some lies with old friends and hopefully made some new ones.Following lunch President, Bob Tessier, introduced our special guest Dave Sloan. On Feb. 29, 2012, while playing senior hockey with the Allusions, Dave had an accidental collision resulting in his spinal cord being severely traumatized. With hard work and determination Dave has progressed in his rehabilitation so that he was able, with the aid of a walker, to attend our tournament to watch his favorite team, the Allusions. To assist Dave with his financial challenges Vintage dedicated “The Ed Zarharichuk Hope Challenge” to the Dave Sloan Foundation.  Personal donations raised over $1000.00 and an additional $376 was contributed via the 50/50 draw. Thanks everyone for your generosity.

Thank you to all the participants and especially to Bob Tessier, Doug Frame, Ron Panchyshyn and Bob Turko for organizing the tournament. We hope you will all be back playing in the 2013 “Ed Zaharichuk Hope Challenge”.

Please remember to sign the back of your Alberta Personal Health Card to donate your organs or body tissues for transplant or medical research. 

The results were: