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Green puck toss in Langley raise coin for sick kids

Save-On-Foods partnered with the WHL hockey team to help BC Children’s Hospital.
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Save-On-Foods stores in Langley sold green foam pucks that were thrown on to the ice at a recent Giants game.

Masses of green foamy pucks made their way onto the ice at a recent Vancouver Giants game, translating to a thousand dollars for sick kids.

Save-On-Foods is partnering with the Langley-based Western Hockey League team to add some fun and an interactive components to the at-home games at the Langley Events Centre.

At the same time, the undertaking raised some much needed money for the BC Children’s Hospital, as well, said Cathy Roufosse, manager of the Walnut Grove Save-On.

The first tag-team effort, dubbed Save-On-Foods Family Sundays, happened on Oct. 23.

There were 19 Save-On members who pitched in – including three store managers (Walnut Grove, Willoughby, and Clayton), two families from the Walnut Grove store, and smattering of team members from all four area stores (including downtown Langley City).

They sold the green pucks from booths at LEC, just ahead of the 4 p.m. game and during the first two intermissions.

Then, the Chuck a Puck was held during the last intermission, between the second and third periods.

Fans threw the pucks on the ice, with the puck closest to the centre winning.

This was the most touching part of the event, for Roufosse. It turned out to be a seven- or eight-year-old little boy whose puck landed closest.

“He was so cute,” she said, noting the youngster won a $300 in Save-On-Foods gift cards for his family of five, “and who couldn’t use $300 worth of groceries,” Roufosse said.

“That was really special.”

She noted a prize for the second closest to the centre, a $100 in Save-On-Foods gift cards, went to a young mother who was there with her husband and one-year-old little girl.

“It was perfect. The day was all about families,” Roufousse added.

When all pucks were cleared off the ice and the dust proverbially settled on the event, the first-time effort netted $1,054 for childen’s health care.

This first-ever Family Sunday also featured a sling-shot game, and a post-game skate with the Giants, where people could also get autographs from the players, Roufosse explained.

“There were so many kids there, and they were just in awe of these hockey players,” she said. “It was just such a great day… It was a fun family atmosphere and we were happy to be part of it.”

The success of the inaugural Save-On-Foods Family Sunday has prompted the local Save-On-Foods staff to give it another go, this time on Sunday, Nov. 20 – when the Giants take on the Regina Pats.

They’ll be selling pucks again: one for $2, three for $7, and seven pucks for $10.

“We will be setting up more dates with the Vancouver Giants to do more Chuck a Pucks, and other fun activities during the intermissions, with the purpose of raising money for BCCH and supporting our Vancouver Giants hockey team in Langley and being active in our community,” Roufosse concluded, inviting hockey fans at the game to join in the fun fundraising endeavour.



Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
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