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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-01-06, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Shaun Gregory Six Seaforth Stars were invited to the Charity Juvenile All-Star Game LEFT TO RIGHT) -Representing the South division is Central Perth Taylor Stahlke, Former NHL player, Dave McLlwain, Scott Campbell, representing the North South Bruce Josh Busby. The referees for the Charity Juvenile All-Star Game. Seaforth hockey mom puts together All-Star game for cancer Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor Every 28 minutes, it's believed one person in Can- ada is diagnosed with some sort of blood cancer. Lisa's son is one of two individuals each hour that have been told that they have the dis- ease. To create awareness she has organized a 60 -min- ute hockey game. "It is our hope that one day, no other family will have their world come to a grinding halt as a doctor tells you, your child, your loved one has cancer," said Lisa Campbell. Campbell, from Seaforth found out her son Scott had his first of three blood can- cers back in 2007. Before the illness was identified he was expected to be playing juve- nile hockey. Due to the severity of his symptoms, numerous relapses and a stem cell transplant that just was not possible. Currently, he has a rare lymphoma called Mycosis Fungoides, Hodgkin's Lymphoma stage 3, Non -Hodgkin's Lym- phoma stage 4 and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Being involved in Minor Hockey as a parent since 1992, Campbell's efforts landed her the opportunity of running the league as the juvenile convenor of the WOAA Minor Hockey Board. Subsequently retiring in STRATFORD AIR SERVICES Call Today! 519-271-4881 WWW. stratfordairservicesltd ca Registered as a Private Career College under the Private Career Colleges Act 2005 ea orthhuronex.ositor.co 2014, the avid hockey mother said she had always had the thought of putting together some type of All- Star game to recognize the deadly disease. With Scott being her number one prior- ity, the idea could not be put into a reality. "In 2014, Scott was in his fourth relapse and about to undergo his second trans- plant. The bone marrow procedure kept (him and me) in Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital for the majority of the winter," stated Campbell. She added the procedures for her son's treatment resulted in her stepping away from the league per- manently and not being able to initiate a hockey game. But, Campbell's ongoing commitment to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society resulted in the suggestion of a poten- tial hockey game arising again. This time around, Campbell sent out an email pitching the proposal of an All-Star game to all the teams, the feedback was all support- ive Campbell said. "We wanted to provide an event that let the players have fun, and at the same time help a great cause in their efforts to end cancer," Campbell stated through messages from Facebook. Campbell admitted the course of action in undertak- ing such an event of this magnitude came with an extended list of priorities including advertising, get- ting approval for the event by the OMHA as well as arrang- ing for referees. With those significant duties being taken care of the goal at hand was choosing the play- ers to participate in the game. She divided the eight teams into two regions, North and South. This was followed by each individual team submitting the names of two forwards, two defensemen and one goalie. To make the team picking more draft -like, each team was also asked to submit one more forward's name that would be considered the "wild card." Campbell said the names were drawn from a hat, resulting in four full lines. "I selected coaches and trainers by drawing names as well," she said. Since Campbell and her family live in the munici- pality of Huron East as well as the vast majority of the players that were offered, it seemed appropriate to play the game close by. "Bringing the event to Seaforth was in all honesty logistically the best choice for us as a family, plus something we hoped would be fun and enjoyable to our home com- munity which has been so very supportive of us as we have been dealing with Scott's health over the years, and as a member of the Seaforth and District Community Centre Board it made sense to bring the crowd into our hometown facility," Campbell said. On December 30 the long awaited game took place at Huron East's Seaforth & District Community Cen- tre. Present to drop the puck and most renowned for playing for a record of four teams in one season was former NHL player and Seaforth native, Dave McLI- wain. Joining the South Juveniles from the area were some locals from the Seaforth Stars including Jake Harrison, Jesse Kins- men, Tanner Merkley Cody Kropf, Ryan Hoffman and Kyle Pollard. The South Juveniles ended up pre- vailing in a 7-5 win with Hoffman putting in two goals and two assists. There was a silent auction and all the money raised for the event was given to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.