While others switched on the TV to watch the world junior hockey championships on Boxing Day, four local teams laced up their own skates instead. The four teams raised about $10,000 in the sixth annual Oak Bay Xmas Cup, surpassing the previous best of $6,000 at the 2013 tournament.
“The majority of money raised this year will be going towards a trust fund for Devon and Finn Oneschuk, with a smaller portion going to the BC Cancer Foundation,” said organizer Sean Tackaberry. “Unfortunately Devon and Finn’s father, Kevin, passed away this past year after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Kevin was a very good friend to many of the participants in the tournament as well as being a Team Christmas player in the 2012 tournament.”
Team Festivus triumphed over Team Feliz Navidad 8-7 in a shootout thriller to hoist the cup. It was the team’s first OBXC championship. A shootout also determined third place as Team Hanukkah edged Team Christmas.
“To date we have raised approximately $26,000 for various causes including BC Cancer Foundation, MS Society of Canada, Victoria Hospice and the Vancouver Island Children’s Health Foundation,” Tackaberry said. “We have players from 18-68 years old, first-time players to first-round NHL draft picks and every level in between. It’s a very unique and extremely fun tournament.”