Cancer research biggest winner in marathon hockey game

tally came afterward when player and organizer Mike Lesakowski announced they had raised more than $1.2 million for Buffalo’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute, surpassing their goal by $200,000.

An environmental engineer, Lesakowski began organizing what became the “11 Day Power Play” a year ago. He was motivated to raise money after his wife, Amy, was successfully treated for breast cancer at Roswell in 2009, and in honor of his mother, who died of cancer a year ago.

“It was hard, getting up in the middle of the night, 2 a.m., sticking your feet in an ice bucket and getting wrapped up,” Lesakowski said. “But here we are. And it feels great right now.”

The two teams were split into mostly seven-player groupings (five skaters, a goalie and one substitute), which rotated playing fourhour shifts. Play stopped each hour for 10 minutes while the ice was cleaned.

Many were forced to take additional shifts to fill in for those who became injured and ill because rules prevented teams from adding replacements once the game began.

All 40 finished, though goalie Ryan Martin missed several days after coming down with strep throat and had to be quarantined so he didn’t infect other players. Nicholas Fattey continued playing despite a broken nose after being struck by a puck.

Whatever aches and pains the players felt were washed away as they celebrated by sipping champagne out of a makeshift cup on the ice.

“I don’t know what to say right now. I’m very tired. We all are,” said Allan Davis, who, at 65, was the game’s oldest player. “This event right here is humbling. The amount of money we raised is unbelievable. But how I am with all of it? I think it’s going to take a few days to sink in.”

The ice time was donated by the NHL’s Buffalo Sabresowned two-rink HarborCenter hockey and entertainment complex. Numerous restaurants chipped in by donating meals. A group of athletic trainers and therapists also was on hand 24 hours a day to treat injuries, tape blisters and provide massages.

The players didn’t leave the facility, cramming into four rooms that were turned into sleeping quarters.

Kenny Corp, who led all scorers with 267 goals based on statistics compiled through midnight, was eager to play some more.

“Absolutely,” Corp said, sporting a gash over the bridge of his nose where he was cut by an errant stick.

“For this cause, it’s a small price to pay as opposed to someone going through chemotherapy or any type of cancer,” Corp said. “So, yes, I would do it again tomorrow.”