Wild Rose MP Blake Richards went into his third annual Hockey Challenge charity game looking to break the fundraising record set from the event’s first two years.
That goal was accomplished – with $83,000 raised for area victims’ services groups – but Richards also broke his nose when a puck struck him in the face following a scramble with Airdrie-Chestermere MLA Rob Anderson.
The incident occurred during second period action of the Hockey Challenge, held at Cochrane’s Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre on Aug. 27, forcing Richards to leave and unable to attend the post-game celebrations.
“I’m doing OK, but I’m not looking too pretty right now,” said Richards, who was left with two black eyes and a swollen face as a result. “I knew there was some blood, but I tried to finish the shift. It soon became obvious that I needed to get it stitched up.”
“Oh, you’re kidding me – I had no idea,” Anderson said when asked about the play. “I saw the puck at centre there, coming towards me, and could see that he was almost on it, so I dived out and poked it. I looked up and saw he was kind of smiling; I didn’t realize he had broken his nose. I hope he’s OK. Serves him right for trying to out race me to a puck.”
Richards scored the game’s opening goal and his federal team beat the provincial team 17-7.
His son Quinn scored three goals, as did Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund and former NHLer Sheldon Kennedy, to lead team Richards.
But the MP said the bigger win from the event was the large cheque presented to victims’ services groups from across his constituency, after the inaugural Hockey Challenge raised around $10,000 and last year’s event brought in $23,000.
“We were really pleased with the results,” Richards said. “I’d take a broken nose any day to raise what we were able to raise.”
For Kennedy, who is well known for his advocacy of victims services, this marked the third straight year of his involvement with the Wild Rose Hockey Challenge.
“The cause is critical. I know in Cochrane, and I know in Airdrie – the people involved with these services – and they are hugely important,” he said.
“For Blake to continually put this on, and us working together, I think says a lot. It’s one of those services within our communities that not a lot of people appreciate enough. But they’re a crucial part of the community. The stats show there is a lot of this that happens in our community; so the more we can raise awareness, the better.”
Richards, who said he’d be working from home for the next few days, had his nose set the day after the game, while doctors told him it should straighten out in a week or two. He broke his nose once before, while playing junior hockey. Following that injury, Richards developed a slight breathing problem. The doctors told him this new injury could solve that issue when his nose straightens out.
Richards said he urged the nurses and doctors to let him return to the arena for the post-game cheque presentation, but they wouldn’t allow him to.
“(Blake) wants to win,” said Flames defenceman T.J. Brodie. “He said it’s the tie-breaking game after the first two years. Plus, it’s always nice to help any charity out.”
“I think it’s good to come out and support the community,” Backlund said. “It’s a lot of fun out there and it’s a good game.”
Anderson, who was the provincial goalie for two-thirds of the game, said he was impressed with the money raised.
“It’s a fun annual event and Blake just does a tremendous job organizing it with his volunteers and his staff,” he said. “We really need to do everything we can to make sure that those folks are taken care of.”
“We’re already starting to discuss what we’re going to do next year,” Richards said. “First thing, I’m going to try to stay injury-free.”
