Marathon hockey game has one goal: Help out children with cancer

Charitable event aims to raise $2 million over nearly 11-day span of constant play

The puck has dropped in Chestermere, where more than 40 athletes are attempting to break a world record for playing the longest consecutive hockey game — with the added motivation of raising $2 million to support pediatric cancer research.

Players in the fourth Hockey Marathon for the Kids can expect to skate for up to 12 hours a day, according to organizer Alex Halat, who created the charity game 12 years ago.

To break their own Guinness World Record set in 2022, the two sides — Team Hope and Team Cure — will have to play for upward of 262 hours, or nearly 11 straight days — the equivalent of nearly an entire NHL season's worth of ice time.

“Their feet are going to swell two or three sizes,” predicts Halat, a longtime Chestermere resident and former university hockey player.

Participants are confined to the Chestermere recreation centre for the duration of the marathon game, which kicked off at 7 p.m. Friday evening and will wrap up April 16.

Players will take turns on and off the ice as they eat, sleep and prepare for their next shift.

In addition to the obvious physical demands, the game presents psychological challenges, as players often lose track of what day or time it is, as they don't see the sun throughout the ordeal.

While it's a gruelling endeavour, Halat said the players are always willing to put their bodies through the ringer to support the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation.

“It's worth it. If it saves the life of a child, I'd play for 20 days,” he said.

The inaugural Hockey Marathon for the Kids was held in 2012. Halat said he was inspired to launch the event as both his brother and a close friend's daughter were battling cancer at the time.

The game returned to the Chestermere rec centre in 2014, 2020 and 2022, with the group setting a record each time.

“The best part of it is that it's become a community event,” Halat said. “Everyone talks about the 40 players, but there are more than 2,020 volunteers who pull this event off. It shows you there's still a lot of good out there.

“Once that game starts, everyone is there for one reason, and that's to save the life of a child.”

Since 2012, the game has generated upward of $5 million in donations to the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, and Halat said the goal is to increase that total by $2 million this year.

He said those who sign up for the game are vetted to ensure they have a personal connection to the cause.

“Some players obviously just want to play and beat the record, but those aren't the players we're looking for,” he said.

“We're looking for players that can raise money, whether they can raise a dollar or $1 million, and players who are in the right mindset, who are there to save the life of a child.”

For more information or to donate, see hockeymarathon.com.