Fall Classic tournament takes over Honeywood Arena

December 10, 2014 · 0 Comments

If anyone needed police assistance in Honeywood on Thursday, December 4, they didn’t have to look very far.
Six teams of police officers from around the region turned out for the fifth annual Law Enforcement Fall Classic charity hockey tournament at Honeywood arena north of Shelburne.
Officers from Ontario Provincial Police detachments from Dufferin, Orangeville, Wellington, Huronia, and Peel Regional Police, traded their uniforms for hockey jerseys for a day of competitive but mostly fun hockey with each team playing three games over the course of the tournament.
The annual tournament raises funds for worthwhile charities including Safe Communities Hill Country and the OPP Kid’s Program and has been successful in raising around $2000 every year with this year’s effort topping the previous total with $3000 raised.
This year, they are also donating part of the proceeds to the family of a fallen officer.
Police officer Andy Houston passed away last year leaving his wife Sarah and three young sons. The tournament will donate some of the funds to assist the boys in continuing to pursue their athletic endeavours.
Tournament organizer Detective Constable Mark Taylor, said the origins of the tournament actually go back almost 20 years when police officers from different forces would play each other. From there, the tournament was started as a way to raise funds for worthwhile causes.
“It’s for fun. There’s no first place. Everyone’s guaranteed three games,” Taylor explained. “Each team pays a registration fee and we have ice time sponsors.”
The tournament was fortunate to have local company AirFX step up as a corporate sponsor this year.
“Our local sponsorship is huge. We have a lot of supporters – a lot from Orangeville,”
Games got underway with an early start and the first puck dropped at 8:00 a.m.
It is always held during the first Thursday of December to accommodate the schedule that most police offers have to maintain.
“It’s easier for police officers to get off on a Thursday than it is on a Saturday or a Sunday. So I always do it on the first Thursday of December every year. It’s easier for officer to get time off during the week than the weekend,” Taylor explained of the mid-week tournament.
Without sponsorship at the local level the tournament would not happen.
“Myself and the tournament organizers would like to extend our gratitude to the sponsors of the fifth annual Fall Classic.” Taylor said. “Our new co-operate sponsor AIR FX with Leo and Janet Rooakkers who’s contribution made this year’s event the best in five years, with the help of numerous other companies and individuals we will be able to sponsor a fallen officers family, the OPP kids program and Safe Communities of the Hill Country. We also want to extend our gratitude to the following individuals and companies; Jamison and Son Roofing, Abflex (Kirk Angell), Pillar to Post (Dennis Jeronimo), Molson / Coors Canada, Creemore Springs Brewery, AIM Appliances (Mark Tardif), Huron Tractor (Chris Hare), Hand Bookkeeping, Sunlife (Peter Quinlan), OPPA, IPRO Realty (Chris Reed), Champ Burger, Evans and Adams Lawyers(Andrew Adams), Dufferin Apparel, the Power Pages and in Memoriam of Randy Mugford.”

By Brian Lockhart