The definition of a long hockey game is often subjective. It is based on time? Or how horribly you or your team is playing? We've all been there -- whether watching, oh say, the Leafs drop a lead or playing in some hack-filled third division Tuesday night rec league -- when the question "Will this game ever end?" haunts us. Well, a collection of intrepid folks in Edmonton put it all that and more to the test when they started playing an outdoor game on Friday February 11th until the final whistle yesterday. Yep, 10 days straight.
The final score? White team 2,090 to Blue team's 2,010. Not too many people can say they lost a hockey game by 80. The game was played by 40 players and played on the home rink of Dr. Brent Saik. Besides seeing their name in the Guinness Book of World Records, the aim of the game was to raise $1 million for Edmonton's Cross Cancer Institute. So far, they've raised more that $870,000. Well done, folks.
Now, pretty sure they'll have to set their gloves on fire to get rid of the smell.
Are we talking 24 hrs straight or ten days of 8 hrs or so? Either way good job fellows, if you do it again put out a call to the rest of the country and you might be able to go till the ice melts in the spring!
Posted by: rob | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 08:20 AM
Good job guys.Next time let the country know you will get guys from across Canada to play
Posted by: al | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 08:27 AM
It's the 4th or 5th year in a row and it's played 24 hrs a day no breaks other then too clean the ice between "periods". Not sure of the team size but the intent is that each shift lasts 8 hours and then you get a sleep break before your next shift.
Posted by: Wade | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 09:02 AM
"intrepid gents"?! Um pretty sure there was one WOMAN playing as well...
Posted by: J. | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Thanks J.! An unintentional oversight now fixed... cheers.
Posted by: BEER | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 11:08 AM
J. the article as it appears to me (just a short while after you posted) says "a collection of intrepid folks in Edmonton..." The error was not in the gender, it was one of location since the home of Dr. Saik is not in Edmonton, but rather east of the city and outside of Sherwood Park.
al, the idea is for locals to take part...and the local radio stations and website (something like worldslongestgame.com, not sure) also keep tabs on this now annual tradition that has been mentioned nationally since before the first game was played.
At least the organizers got the colder weather they needed...it was very warm during the first couple of days and ice was a major concern.
I am glad they were able to keep it going for as long as they had intended...
Posted by: Elijah | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Great job people for a great cause !!!!!!
Posted by: Nanook | Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Gimme a break "east of edmonton, outside sherwood park" as if Strathcona county isn't part of greater edmonton you leet tax evading loser. To the men AND women who made this happen AGAIN...congrats!!
Posted by: Kevin | Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 03:51 AM