Support for an annual hockey fundraiser held in Morris and St. Jean this weekend was undeniable.  By the time all is said and done, it's expected the annual event will have raised over $20,000 for CancerCare Manitoba.
    
The Morris Mavericks of the Zone 4 High School Hockey League, the Red River Mudbugs of the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League and Pembina Valley Twisters of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League participated in the three-day fundraising event.
    
With cancer touching everyone in some way, Pat Schmitke, co-owner of the Twisters, says they feel it's an important cause to get behind.  "We just had one of our local players, his grandfather recently passed away of cancer, so it's kind of near and dear to us today. And we've had other players that have experienced losing loved ones to cancer. It touches everyone.  It's a good cause, and it goes to a good place."

Schmitke says not only did the three teams and volunteers pull together to make the event a success, he added there was also support from outside the Morris area.  He noted they had participants from Winkler, Morden, and surrounding areas as well.

The goal was to raise $20,000, which Schmitke says is about twice as much as last year's goal.  "I'm almost certain that we've surpassed that goal by some. We're very, very pleased with the response we had from the community, and everyone involved."