Just a fun weekend for beer league hockey players, raising money for a good cause. We began planning in 2018, at a time when locker room culture was under a harsh spotlight. The MeToo movement was growing, Trump was excusing assault with “locker room talk,” and Hockey Canada’s scandal was still ahead. We all knew firsthand how toxic jokes and attitudes still thrived in many rinks. So we took a stand. We chose to support our local Sexual Assault Centre and show that hockey can be a force for good — a space where everyone belongs.

After one magical weekend, we realized that what we had was bigger than just a local hockey tournament. We saw the potential for building a different sports culture; one built on acceptance, kindness and standing up for what’s right.

While our tournament lasts only 1 weekend each year, the feeling lives on. We all take it back to our jobs and into our homes. What we create when we come together changes how we choose to show up in the world, how we coach our kids and how we live.

We quickly felt the impact we can have when we create spaces where people can come together, play, and get to know one another. Hockey is what we love and, in a world that needs it more than ever, this is our way of building the kind of communities where we all thrive.