P.E.I. Face Off Against Cancer event brings in $64,000

Gear Grinders team raises the most money for second year in a row

The fourth Vector Aerospace Face Off Against Cancer hockey tournament raised more than $64,000 in support of the Canadian Cancer Society’s mission to eradicate cancer.

Nine teams were involved in the tournament, which took place at the Bell Aliant Centre in Charlottetown, May 26-28.

Each team laced up to play three games as Island hockey players of all skill levels get to spend the weekend, both on and off the ice, with NHL legends and local celebrities.

This year’s lineup included Stephane Richer, Bob Sweeney, Chris Nilan, Darren Langdon, Gary Leeman, Drew MacIntyre, Luke Beck, Steve Gallant, Carl Trainor, Mike Kelly, Freddy MacDonald and Tex MacDonald.

Connor McDavid, was the honorary chair for the 2017 tournament, though the current Edmonton Oilers star was not in attendance.

The Gear Grinders of Midland Transport brought in the most donations, winning the chance to play the final game of the tournament against the celebrities for the second year in a row. The Grinders won the game 9-4.

Twelve-year-old Griffin Read of Summerside, the tournament’s ambassador, recently finished two years of treatment for cancer. Read dropped the puck for the championship game and presented the Andrew Coady Memorial Cup to the top fundraising team. Best of all, there is now no evidence of cancer in Griffin.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Griffin Read, 12, of Summerside, prepares to drop the puck between former NHL players Stephane Richer, left, and Chris Nilan, at the annual Vector Aerospace Face Off Against Cancer hockey tournament, which raised $64,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.