It all started with a pickup game during the Christmas break in 2011.
The game has grown into a serious championship contest, complete with trophy and fans.
The puck drops on the 3rd Annual Innisfail Christmas Classic at 2 p.m. on Dec. 23 at the Innisfail Arena for alumni of the Innisfail Minor Hockey Association.
“We have 30 players, and two goalies already committed to the game,” said organizer Nick Bell. “The youngest player we have registered is 18, and the oldest is around 26 or 27. All of the guys have either started playing hockey in Innisfail, or played minor league hockey around here.”
Alumni of the Innisfail Minor Hockey Association have played in Senior AAA, Junior A, Junior B, NCAA and the Western Hockey League (WHL). Bell himself played with the Red Deer Rebels in 2010, and other players have had ice time with the WHL's Kootenay Ice. Several players are past and present members of the Red Deer College Kings as well.
“The Christmas Classic will be a standard full-length game of three periods at 20 minutes each and the winning team receives the Innisfail Christmas Classic trophy. So far this year, we have not decided who is dropping the ceremonial puck, so that will be a surprise for the fans, and probably players too,” Bell added.
Bell said last year's game raised $230 and 170 pounds of food for the Innisfail and Area Food Bank, and this year was looking for a better response. Admission to the game is by donation.
Fans and players can find out more information online at http://www.innisfailchristmasclassic.com/
