Baby, it was cold outside.
The frigid temperatures of last weekend – dipping into the high minus thirties with the windchill – didn't stop the 11th annual Kimmett Cup from surpassing their fundraising goals of $125,000 for the Children's Wish Foundation and $25,000 (already over $50,000) for the Children's Cottage Society.
"We're still working on final numbers but we can confidently say we exceeded both those totals," said co-organizer Reid Kimmett of the 3-on-3 ice hockey tourney that filled Mitford Pond and Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre over the weekend.
Reid took time over the weekend to remember the heart of it all – his late sister Dr. Lindsay Leigh Kimmett, who was killed on Feb. 17, 2008 by a distracted driver.
Held in high regard by everyone who knew her, especially her family, Lindsay's philanthropic heart, passion for children and hockey and her tenacity to go above and beyond is what inspired her family to launch the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation in the wake of her death.
Since then, the annual Kimmett Cup charity hockey tourney and the annual Tournament of Aces – of which the Rotary Club of Cochrane has now taken the event reins – have combined raised over $2.5 million for local and international charities.
With 18-month-old son Simon lacing up his skates for the first time, Reid felt comfort that his young son could embrace his aunt's spirit – the aunt he never met but who changed the family's lives for generations to come.
"I have a lot of really good memories ... and taking my son out on skates for the first time to be in his aunt's spirit is really special," said Reid.
From the competitive division, the Hellbenders came out victorious for the third year in a row.
Out of the recreational division, the Kraken reined supreme.
There were a total of 52 teams, comprised of several hundred players and dozens of volunteers.
Other honourable mentions include the Cochrane Cruisers for the Spirit of the Kimmett Cup; TransCanada as the Shot Stick winner. The Spirit Bear Cup winner will be announced tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 15).
To learn more, visit kimmettcup.com.
