The Milton U10 AA Winter hawks hosted their second annual Ball Hockey Charity Tournament during the Milton Downtown BIA Holiday market on Nov. 27, in support of the team and the Townsend Smith Hospice Foundation. The event raised over $4,000, which was split evenly between the two organizations. The Winterhawks were proud to be able to present a cheque for $2,065.63 to Holly Lillico of TSF on during an outdoor, socially-distanced gathering on Dec. 19.

The event is organized by team parents and coaches and supported by the Downtown Milton BIA and the overall Winterhawks organization. We were thrilled by the support the event received this year, with dozens of local and small businesses providing sponsorship and raffle prizes, despite having had an incredibly difficult year because of the challenges posed by Covid-19. Several bigger companies also provided sponsorship, while the Milton Menace and local representatives from all three levels of government — Adam van Koeverden, Parm Gill and Mayor Gord Krantz — stopped by to support the event.

The Milton minor hockey community was also a huge factor in the event’s success, with rep, house league and parent teams taking part. The U10 A Milton Winterhawks took the top spot after some hard-fought battles.

For our coaching staff, the goal has always been to develop the boys not just as hockey players but also as people, and for them to become young citizens who understand the value of thinking beyond themselves and actively giving back.

We hoped the event — and the incredibly level of community support it received — helped show the importance of community engagement, and we believe it showcased what a strong community Milton is and how much it values the need for a hospice and Townsend Smith Foundation. We were touched by how many people were willing to donate prizes and buy raffle tickets when they realized the event helped support Townsend Smith.