The World’s Longest Hockey Game concluded a marathon run in Sherwood Park, Alberta on January 28th. Over the course of 72 hours at Saiker’s Acres, forty-five young hockey players braved the ice while raising an impressive sum of over $350,000 to support children battling illness.

Among them was Jesse Saik, who reflected on his approximately 30 hours spent on the ice with a sense of accomplishment, despite a few blisters. The game, a longstanding fundraiser for cancer research since 2003, holds personal significance for Jesse’s family. His father, Brent Saik, began the event following the loss of his own father to cancer in 1994. Over the years, the tournament has raised over $7.4 million in donations.

This year marked the second occasion where young players, aged 10 to 16, laced up and got on the ice. While the event may have been less focused on setting hockey records, the Canadian spirit for hockey remained as kids took the opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause while enjoying their beloved sport.

Proceeds from last year’s game went to the Ben Stelter Foundation, and this year’s donations will support the Stollery Children’s Hospital and cancer clinical trials at the University of Alberta. For Jesse and his fellow players, the motivation to play for this cause stems from a desire to make a difference in the lives of sick children.

Despite falling short of their ambitious $500,000 fundraising target, this year’s game surpassed the previous year’s contributions, coming in at $373,000 donated by the end of the event. At the end of the day, the World’s Longest Hockey Game goes beyond just sports and serves as a beacon of hope in the fight against cancer. The true essence of the event lies in its noble purpose: to raise funds and awareness in pursuit of a cure for cancer. 
The World’s Longest Hockey Game Website