Brockville Magedoma Old Timers Hockey League gears up for third annual HockeyFest charity event
Getting older is inevitable, but giving up on your passions just because you’re getting older is not.
In fact, keeping up with those activities and communities you’ve always loved can help you feel forever young. That is the mindset for the players on the Brockville Magedoma Old Timers Hockey (BMOTH) team, a recreation league of local hockey players over the age of 60.
The BMOTH team proudly facilitates opportunities for community, friendships, exercise, and socialization among older men between the ages of 60 and 80, a generation statistically prone to increasing isolation and loneliness. The group practices weekly at Brockville Memorial Center at 100 Magedoma Blvd. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Last week, the league launched an awareness campaign on social media entitled “Meet The Magedomas,” where they share the unique backstory of each of their players. This is to raise the team’s profile in time to promote their third annual Brockville Magedoma HockeyFest charity tournament from March 18 to 19. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will welcome over 100 players aged 60+ from Brockville and the surrounding area to the Brockville Memorial Centre.
According to league convenor Doug Duke, “The purely recreational event unites friends, family and the community as we focus on raising funds for the less fortunate through donations to our local Brockville charities.”
This year, the HockeyFest event will raise money for the Weekender Program 4 Kids (WP4K), a local program run by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul that provides food to local children and teens experiencing food insecurity. Duke explained, “WP4K fills a unique need other school-based nutrition programs do not, they help curb hunger on the weekends for local kids and teens (JK to Grade 12) who live with food insecurity. I think they are helping 377 students currently. All funds that we raise go directly to the charity we have chosen.”
If the general public would like to get involved, they can do so through sponsorship opportunities or donations for the event. Duke continued, “In addition, the public is welcome to join in on the fun at the rink and support the participating teams from Kingston, Kemptville, Westport, Shawville, Brockville Old Boys and of course the Magedomas.”
Duke is proud to be a part of an organization like the Magedomas, a team that not only has a positive impact on it’s players, but on the broader Brockville community.
“As we all age it’s important for us to stay fit, be active and keep our minds challenged. It’s also important to stay involved socially and give back to the community. Finding an organization that focuses on all these important areas is rare and also essential for our aging community. We are more than just Brockville’s senior shinny hockey group, we are truly a men’s club providing a venue for the social atmosphere we all crave, creating long lasting friendships, and of course, great recreational hockey.”
Learn more at https://www.bmoth.ca/copy-of-march-2023