Taber Titans have a hunger to help the Taber Food Bank

Times File Photo FACE OFF AGAINST HUNGER: Pictured is from last year’s charity event.

By Greg Price
For Taber Times

Whatever the final score is for Taber Titans Charity’s ‘Face Off Against Hunger’ hockey game, it will be the Taber Food Bank and its clients that will be the big winners.

Scheduled for Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m. at the Taber Arena, Taber Titans Charity board members and its volunteers will strap on the skates and compete against a different organization in each of the three periods of the game spectators are encouraged to watch.

The family-fun event has the Titans dropping the puck against Taber Minor Hockey in the first period, Taber Fading Sons in the second period and Taber Police Service and their first-responder friends in the third period. The start of the game will be kicked off with a rousing rendition of O’Canada by a youth choir led by Dr. Hammon teacher, Tamara Melynchuk .

Admission is either non-perishable food items or cash donations to the Taber Food Bank.

Coming off the heels of an extremely successful Coldest Night of the Year campaign and its legions of walkers, Taber Food Bank is pleased for the Taber Titans’ love of hockey transferring to its love for its citizens it helps.

“The Titans help those families in need who struggle to afford sport and recreation, and likely many of those same families have their challenges with food security as well,” said Kevin Leahy, a board member for Taber Food Bank. “It’s a partnership where hockey fans can have some fun, and we can both help fulfill our similar directives in helping people in need.”

The Titans will be bringing some reinforcements for their squad, including Joel ‘Bam Bam’ Mills, and Mayor Andrew Prokop.

“With the ringers we’re bringing, we can’t lose,” said Taylor Gouw, president of Taber Titans Charity, with a sly smile in tow. “All joking aside, there’s going to be so much fun for the family with plenty of extras for the spectators. We hope to see a huge showing of support from the community with a great cause like the Taber Food Bank being the big benefactor from Taberites showing they care.”

Taber’s Citizen of the Year, Cst. Christopher Nguyen, will rival the Titans, and provide a high pressure shoot-out in goal to raise funds for the Taber Food Bank.

Challenging celebrity shooters to a best-of-five shootout, with $100 per puck out of their own pockets on the line during the first intermission.

During the second intermission, a lucky attendee will have the opportunity to make a goal-in-one shot worth $10,000, sponsored by Ken Holst of Saunders Insurance.

“We’ve had a really good working relationship with Saunders Insurance for our charity hockey tournament in January and with Spider Entertainment for Cornstock with another one of our major fundraisers. His generosity is well known over many different causes,” said Gouw.

Wild Bill Lawson, hot off his debut film screening the weekend before at The Palace, will call the game.

“Wild Bill has always stepped up to volunteer his MCing skills to help his community like Cornfest and the Taber and District Health Foundation Telethon in the past,” said Cole McCracken, board member with Taber Titans Charity. “We are very happy he is willing to give his artistic flair and colour commentary to the game to add an extra layer of fun for the fans in an entertaining afternoon at the rink.”

Other fundraising avenues at the game will be a $5 a ticket 50/50 along with the $10,000 goal-in-one opportunity. Door prizes/raffle prizes are also available which include coveted Cornstock tickets.

“We are forever grateful for every dollar and food item this event will bring,” said Leahy. “As our meeting minutes show from our recent AGMs, the need for all our programs/services has risen exponentially since COVID. A very giving Taber, M.D. of Taber, and Barnwell communities have answered the call with our initiatives, and we hope they continue to do so with this charity hockey game put on by the Titans.”

Safe Haven, St. Augustine’s CWL, Knights of Columbus, and Taber Kinsmen have also stepped up to make the event a success. Kiwanis will be on hand with their tap board to help collect donations.

“There are many great service organizations in this community that are lending a hand to help make this event a success,” said Gouw. “The game-winning goal for all of us is that no one in our community has to go hungry.”