Monday night’s hockey game between alumni of the Regina High Knights and Herdan Collegiate Huskies — with a few Corner Brook Regional High graduates mixed in — was extra special.
The Knights won the game 10-9, but the end result was an afterthought compared to what the game, entitled the Winter Classic Hockey Game for Mental Health, really meant.
Donations were accepted at the door, with all proceeds going to the Community Mental Health Initiative in Corner Brook. The donation was made in the name of Adam Taylor, the cousin of one of the Huskies players, Ryan Doody.
Mr. Taylor had lived with mental illness until his sudden death on April 3 and this year’s game — the third time the group of friends got together — was dedicated to his memory.
Doody created a Facebook group and invited about 300 people to either play or attend the game.
“Ryan Doody did an excellent job,” said Brad Dyke, who played for the Huskies for three years, winning three city championships.
Dyke never knew Mr. Taylor personally, but as a registered nurse said he knows how important mental health awareness is.
“I was in full support for when Ryan came home and said he was going to do this,” he said.
The game itself wasn’t exactly an intense affair, but Dyke joked that it’s still never nice losing to the Knights.
Still, he said, it’s not often the group of friends get to spend any time together anymore, with most spread out in all directions these days.
“Christmastime is awesome,” he said.
“It’s the only time of year you can actually get together with all the boys and see everyone.”
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