Members of the Novice B Storm collected $720 worth of donations around Saugeen Shores January 8 as part of their bottle drive. In total they surpassed their goal of raising $1,200 for the International Silver Stick tournament fee in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Hub photo

Hub Staff

After a week of donations and braving frigid temperatures while collecting empties in Saugeen Shores, the Novice B Storm team raised enough money, $1,200 and counting, to pay their way into the International Silver Stick Hockey tournament in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, January 20 through 22.

With outreach from community businesses, The Wismer House donating their holiday empties to Boston Pizza “tapping in” by donating their empty kegs as well as hosting a free pizza party for the team following their hard day’s work. Members from the local novice team accepted empties at the Plex as well as the Port Elgin and Southampton beer stores January 8 in double digit negative temperatures.

Jessica Hall, mother of twin boys and Storm players Sam and Ben Hall, said the boys on the team were “crazy excited to get the chance to go to the States as a team. And the parents are just as excited for the opportunity.”

In an earlier interview, Head Coach Craig Akerman said the team wasn't expecting to be involved in the Michigan tournament but made the cut following 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 30 plus games into their season.

Ackerman 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 to show the kids “what a great community we live in.”

Sunday's Beer Store tallies totalled over $600 with Port Elgin reaching $342.70 with Southampton raising $260; while donations received at the Plex rounded out the January 8 total.

Hall said the team and parents wanted to thank the community for donating, the Beer Store for their patience with the large drops offs, community businesses Boston Pizza and The Wismer House for their large donations, and Jeff McLean and Kerri Hardman for their early donation.

While the Hockey players attended their match-up against West Grey at the Plex, parent and sister volunteers Stacey (left) and Ella Marshall (in van) assisted Donna Little (pink hat) with her bottle drive donations, January 8. Hub photo

Team members were sure to be seen at the Plex January 8. 

Boston Pizza owner Trevor Specer donated empty kegs to the Novice B Storm's bottle drive. Storm player Devin Thompson was happy to accept the donation. Photo submitted