The young Elk Valley Raiders are heading to a provincial championship in Vanderhoof in March, and are fundraising for the trip with help from the Ghostriders.
The U15 team of 13 and 14-year-olds in the Elk Valley Minor Hockey Association (EVMHA) East Kootenay League was welcomed onto the Fernie Memorial Arena ice Sunday (Feb. 6), before the Ghostriders game against the Grand Forks Border Bruins, to be formally introduced to the crowd and promote a raffle to help the team secure the funds to make their participation in the provincial championship possible.
“Our kids are ridiculously excited,” said team manager Crystal Tennant days before the Sunday game.
“The Ghostriders are what they all look up to. It’s just really fun. They’re going to all get dressed up in their before-game clothes and their jerseys, and go out on the ice and be introduced.”
The Raiders plan to head to Vanderhoof for the championship taking place between March 19 and 23. Six other teams from across B.C. at the top of their tier 4 leagues (the tiers are based on population) are meant to participate, according to Tennant. The Raiders secured their spot through a ‘playdown’ tournament against Invermere. Only two of the four possible participant teams competed in the playdown.
It will be quite costly to take the 16 players to Vanderhoof for four nights.
Raffle tickets can be bought at Ghostriders games, or through Raiders players and managers.
“We’ll be selling tickets from now until our raffle draw.”
The draw date will be around the end of February or beginning-to-middle of March, with three cash prizes available at $500, $1,000, or $1,500. There will also be two other raffles raising money for the cause, and the team will be partaking in odd jobs and efforts to raise the necessary funds.
“Basically anything that we can do with the kids to try and make them some money, we’re going to do it,” Tennant said.