After losing an eye during a recreational hockey game 15 years ago, Dean Turnquist’s friends and neighbours organized a road hockey tournament to help raise funds and garner support for Turnquist’s recovery.
And every year since then, the tournament has continued, now raising funds to help children from financially challenged families to participate in sport through the Helping Hand Fund.
The 16th annual Dean Turnquist Spring Fever Road Hockey Tournament took place on Saturday, April 30, and hosted the largest number of youth teams ever.
Twenty children’s teams were registered in the fun tournament at the Innisfail Arena along with eight adult teams.
The event raised close to $5,000 this year minus some of the expenses.
Teams of friends, family members, and minor hockey teammates entered to play in the tournament that promotes fun and camaraderie between players. Teams decorated shirts or jerseys with fun names and competed throughout the day.
The event has not only attracted local attention and participants but has also brought in several high profile names in the past.
This year several Red Deer Rebels players competed in the tournament including one of the top ranked players in the 2011 WHL draft, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He was joined by his Rebels teammate Daulton Siwak and Innisfail native Riley Simpson, who currently plays for the Brooks Bandits.
All of the budding hockey stars spent time during the day signing autographs for children looking to follow in their footsteps one day.
