Widbur memorial tournament marks eighth year

April 15, 2015 · 0 Comments

The Jennifer Widbur Memorial Hockey Tournament marked it’s eighth year of fundraising efforts at the Honeywood arena on Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11.
While the tournament, featuring the Honeywood Hockey Moms is a lot of fun, it also produces a serious effort in support of cancer care at Headwaters Health Care Centre.
The 2014 tournament raised a total of $50,000 for the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose and treat cancer at Headwaters.
Over all, the event has raised $268,000 over the eight years.
“This year we have 11 teams plus two mother / daughter teams,” said Mike deLaat, the late Jennifer Widbur’s husband and member of the tournament organizing committee.
The tournament is held in memory of Jennifer – a local resident and friend of many who passed away in 2007.
“In 2007, my wife Jennifer passed away from breast cancer. A group of the Honeywood Hockey Moms were learning how to play hockey at the time. They were together in the dressing room and said ‘we should do something,’” deLatt explained. “Jennifer died in December, and by the next April the girls had organized the first tournament. That year we raised almost $30,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.”
The majority of the funds raise will be going to “the greatest need in cancer care at Headwaters Health Care Centre.”
The organizing committee directs funds raised to Headwaters cancer care but does not specify directly how the funds are to be used. They rely on the experience of hospital directors to ensure the funds are channeled to the greatest need.
“They’re building a new wing (at the hospital). It will have a new chemo area, and we are hoping we can help furnish and make it a better place for people in Dufferin County that have to go through chemo,” deLatt said.
With women’s and girl’s hockey becoming more popular, the tournament has no shortage teams wanting to sign up and get out on the ice.
This year the event featured five back-to-back games on Friday night followed by games all day Saturday and championships games going into the evening.
The first game of the tournament got underway with a ceremonial puck drop and mother / daughter teams from Honeywood and Shelburne.

By Brian Lockhart

Photos by brian Lockhart
The annual Jennifer Widbur Memorial Hockey Tournament hosted by the Honeywood Hockey Moms took place over the weekend (Apr. 10,11) at the Honeywood arena. Pictured: Mike de Laat, husband of the late Jennifer Widbur, and sons Quinn and Logan, surrounded by family members drop the puck at the ceremonial face off during the Jennifer Widbur Memorial Hockey Tournament. Since its beginning in 2006, the tournament has raised $268,000 in support of cancer care at Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville.

Mulmur councillor Heather Hayes, presents a certificate of recognition to Mike deLaat for the efforts of the Jennifer Widbur Memorial Hockey Tournament in their success in raising funds in support of Cancer Care and Headwaters Health Care Centre.