The event aims to help raise funds in honour of Travis Gillespie, with the goal of providing support for children to participate in minor hockey and martial arts programs.
Gillespie, a York Region Police Constable, was killed in September 2022 when an alleged impaired driver struck his vehicle while he was on his way to work. Dan Gillespie, Travis’ brother, told us more about the 12-hour charity hockey tournament that will take place this year at the King Edward Park Arena in Brighton.
The inception of the tournament stemmed from the vision of founder Zack Zedo, a childhood friend of Travis, who sought to honour Travis’s memory and legacy. Profound shock and sorrow reverberated through Northumberland County where Travis spent his formative years.
Last year, the tournament was held in Warkworth and raised more than $22,000 in support of minor hockey and martial arts, both of which were passions of Travis’s. Next year, organizers plan to move the event to Colborne, where Travis played hockey throughout his childhood.
The tournament begins at 7:45 am with puck drop slated for 8:00 am at the King Edward Park Arena on March 9, 2024.
(Written by: Noah Lorusso)
