The second Chauncey Classic charity hockey game raised about $6,500 for the Alberta-based Mental Health Foundation.
On Jan. 27, dozens of hockey players took to the ice on the outdoor rink in Red Deer’s Oriole Park neighbourhood to raise money for the foundation in honour of Sean “Chauncey” Corrigal, who died by suicide on Jan. 5, 2022, when he was 36 years old.
“A lot of people out there are going through (mental health struggles) and you don’t even realize,” said Joe Chodzicki, a member of the event’s organizing committee and a longtime friend of Corrigal.
“Any contribution that’s made to (support) people’s mental health is a good thing.”
The inaugural Chauncey Classic in 2023 featured one giant hockey game. For this year’s event, participants were divided into four teams to play a series of games. Following those games, there was an afterparty at Leah’s Bar and Grill, featuring a 50/50 raffle, silent auction and live music.
“It was roughly the same number of people on the ice (when compared to the 2023 classic). Us having four teams made it a little easier, so they didn’t have to play in a three-hour game,” Chodzicki noted.
“Last year, it all happened so fast. Just four of us put it together in a month. This year, we had eight people on the organizing committee, and everybody was doing a little bit of everything. It was good teamwork and so much effort was put in by everyone on the committee.”
Between the 60-70 people playing and those who came out to watch the hockey games, there were 200-300 people who came out to the Chauncey Classic, Chodzicki estimated.
“I have to thank everybody who participated, showed up to spectate, those who volunteered and all of the sponsors. I can’t thank them enough,” he said.
“Being around people and getting that community feeling is a huge part of this. We were able to have people come out, interact with other people and let them know they aren’t alone. There are people here if they ever need someone to talk to.”
Chodzicki said the Chauncey Classic will return in 2025.
“I think next year will be a lot bigger.”
The Mental Health Foundation aims to enhance mental health and addictions recovery through research and innovation, education and care. For more information on the foundation, visit mentalhealthfoundation.ca.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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