![\"Jeff](\"http:\/\/vashl.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Jeff-and-Sherman-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a>Sure-footed athletes and enthusiastic amateurs of all ages converged on the Steve Brown Sports Complex at Lions Park this weekend to raise money for The Lung Association by playing the game that put Brantford on the sporting map \u2013 hockey.<\/p>\nThe sixth annual Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament drew 212 teams and umpteen players to Brantford, including a contingent of six colourfully-clad American teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love playing hockey, and it\u2019s for a good cause,\u201d said Mike Crandall of Rochester, New York, who returned for his fourth tournament. Crandall and his teammates were inspired to come to Brantford by American actor and director Kevin Smith, a past attendee and strong online booster of the event.<\/p>\n
The Americans, who hail from across the northeastern United States, get together to play at several fundraising tournaments throughout the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big, huge family, really,\u201d Crandall said.<\/p>\n
Each of the teams played several games and could partake in skills competitions and children\u2019s activities, including a magic show, throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n
But for many players, the highlight of the weekend was meeting Walter Gretzky himself, who unfailingly stopped to sign autographs and pose for pictures with awestruck fans.<\/p>\n
Tournament organizer Sandy Lee worked with Gretzky at Bell Canada years ago, and organizes a golf tournament in honour of his wife Phyllis, who died of lung disease. When the Gretzky family asked Lee to take on the ball hockey tournament this year, she couldn\u2019t refuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey asked me, and I\u2019d do anything for that family, so I immediately jumped right on it,\u201d Lee said. \u201cIt\u2019s been an amazing six-month journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Funds raised from this year\u2019s tournament support lung health research at McMaster University and The Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health.<\/p>\n
The teams played through heavy rain on Friday, but enjoyed clear skies Saturday. The daylong sights and sounds of hockey being played at eight rinks simultaneously, with the excited players following hard upon each other to take their turn, left little doubt that even though numbers were slightly down from 2011\u2032s record-breaking tally of 227 teams, the street hockey tournament is alive and well.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody\u2019s having a wonderful time regardless of the rain. We\u2019re a hockey town, and you take a look at all these people decked out in hockey gear, and they\u2019re having a ball. That\u2019s what it\u2019s all about,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n
The players had fun channeling their inner Gretzky, but Brantford\u2019s town crier David McKee reminded them what they were really playing for.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are here because you can breathe,\u201d McKee said. \u201cToday, you play to help the millions of Canadians for whom each breath is a challenge.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
via www.brantnews.com<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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![\"Jeff](\"http:\/\/vashl.com\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Jeff-and-Sherman.jpg\")
<\/a>Sure-footed athletes and enthusiastic amateurs of all ages converged on the Steve Brown Sports Complex at Lions Park this weekend to raise money for The Lung Association by playing the game that put Brantford on the sporting map \u2013 hockey.<\/p>\n