The Wismer House in Port Elgin donated approximately $350 worth of empties to the Novice B Storm team’s bottle drive fundraiser. On a snowy Thursday, January 5, owner of The Wismer House Jeff Carver stood with nine of the 13 team members heading to the International Silver Stick Tournament in Michigan.

Megan Dunn, Saugeen Shores Hub

The players of the Novice B Storm are a few hundred dollars closer to their goal of raising $1,200 ($900 USD) to play in the International Silver Stick Tournament in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, January 20 through 22.

The team put out a call for empties (See: Save your empties; help local team get to Michigan tournament) and The Wismer House answered that call by donating approximately $350 worth to the team January 5.

Over the busy holiday season The Wismer House accumulated many empties and owner Jeff Carver said that this was a good opportunity to help kids create memories and have a fun time at the Michigan tournament, like he did at away tournaments as a youth.

Head Coach Craig Akerman said the team wasn't expecting to be involved in the tournament but made the cut after a great showing at the Kincardine Silver Stick in late December. Ackerman said the International Silver Stick Tournament will be a “positive experience for the kids”, who are now 32 games into their season.

He said they’re a fantastic group of kids, willing to learn, and try hard every game. He said fundraising is all a part of the experience and the bottle drive is a way to show the kids “what a great community we live in.”

The Novice B Storm team will be collecting donations around Saugeen Shores on Sunday, January 8. They will be in the Plex parking lot from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m and will also be collecting donations door-to-door, weather permitting, in Port Elgin and Southampton from 1 to 3 p.m.

To ensure that your donations are not missed, bottles and cans will also be accepted at the Port Elgin Beer Store from 1 to 3 p.m.

Parents and coaches filled the truck bed with empty cans and bottles donated by The Wismer House, January 5.

Players of the Novice B Storm team entertained themselves at the Wismer House.