Hockey teams have fierce rivalries and so do competing car dealerships… but they set all that aside and join forces when a tragedy hits close to home.
On Dec. 4, 2018, Brenda Hayward of Virden passed away. She and husband Bill Hayward were deeply embedded in the local sports culture, curling and playing broomball (her), hockey and refereeing (him), attending games and supporting their kids in sports.
Blair Koop of the Oil Kings senior hockey team wanted to do something for them so he organized a fundraiser for the team’s Dec. 8, 2018 game at TOGP.
Koop challenged Virden’s three car dealerships to donate $100 per goal scored in that game. He recalls texting them the idea and, “In all honesty, I don’t think I’ve ever got a text message back so fast!”
The dealers jumped on board and wound up splitting the $1,100 total for 11 goals. The hockey team also donated the proceeds of that night’s 50/50 draw. The total was given to Cancer Care Manitoba in honour of Brenda.
The men got together briefly last week to visit for a while and have their picture taken. Bill Hayward got to thank them in person, saying the support has been “just overwhelming”.
Koop said, “Bill and Brenda have been a huge part of senior hockey for years as well as minor hockey, so it was just fitting that we as the Oil Kings organization do our part to show the family support for Brenda and what they meant to us over the years.”
