PORT ALICE— The Old Timers in Port Alice came out to the arena last weekend and put on a show for the second annual Bob Bailey Memorial game.
The game, held to raise money for Port Alice Minor Hockey, is held in memory of Bob Bailey, a Port Alice resident who was a big supporter of minor hockey before he passed away after battling cancer.
The game itself was made up of Port Alice locals, from Islanders to Old Timers, with the players choosing sides on the night and donning blue or white jerseys.
The Old Timers proved they still had some fight left out on the ice, the Blue team pulling ahead 3-0 early on only to see the White side come together and claw its way back before the Blue side regained the upper hand before the break.
The second period told a similar story, with Port Alice Councillor Dave Stewart on the Blue side chalking up a series of breakaway efforts to add to his side's lead before a resurgent White came from 8-5 down in the final minutes to see Matt Senciw's shot find the top corner to level the scores and then pulled ahead to win the game 9-8.
The game itself was secondary to the fundraising efforts and the man it represented. More than $800 was raised through donations, a puck toss and other efforts, and as Port Alice Minor Hockey's Curtis Ager said during the interval, "Bob would have wanted it to go to minor hockey."
"I've never heard anybody ever say anything bad about Bob Bailey — and in this town that's saying something," he added.
Combined with funds from other organizations in the town, including the Lions and Legion, Port Alice Minor Hockey was able to purchase a new Zamboni for the arena and dedicated it at the event.
"Thank you to so many sponsors who helped make this possible," said Stewart. "On behalf of the Mayor and the council of Port Alice, we thank you for helping us keep our wonderful arena operating. Thanks very much."
Ager added, "Events like this will immortalize these people for a long, long time."