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Though the National Hockey League season came to a close Wednesday, there’s still plenty of hockey to be played this weekend.
The second annual “Skating to Cure Diabetes” event will take place from 8 a.m. today to noon Sunday at Hockey Outlet Arena in North Tonawanda. The event is expected to attract more than 600 hockey players from around the area, including current and former Buffalo Sabres, and will raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Event coordinator Dave Cannon, a Town of Tonawanda resident, started the event last year to benefit MacKenzie Duffy, a 10-year-old student at St. Christopher Elementary in Tonawanda, who has battled Type I diabetes since she was 4.
“It’s going to be a very entertaining day,” Cannon said. “We want to make it fun, we want to raise awareness for diabetes for these kids and try to find them a cure and we want to have fun doing it.”
The initial puck drop will take place this morning with area youths before the Sabres alumni are scheduled to hit the ice at 7:30 p.m. A $10 donation is required for the game.
There will be dozens of autographed and non-autographed sports items up for auction including Sabres and Patrick Kane memorabilia, an appearance by Sabretooth, as well as a one-hour hockey clinic at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, which will be run be Grant Ledyard. In addition to the alumni game and the clinic, members of the gold-medal-winning, Team USA sled hockey team will play in an exhibition game at 4 p.m. today, while the Niagara University men’s hockey team will play at 9:50 a.m. Sunday.
“We’re very excited,” said Janeen Duffy, MacKenzie’s mother. “It’s a huge event and a lot of work went into it. A lot of people are involved and there was a lot of help from volunteers and friends and family. It’s wonderful having the support from everyone in the area.
“We’re raising money for all kids, not just MacKenzie, but everyone with Type I diabetes.”
Last year, 155 people took part in the event and raised $11,000 to donate to JDRF. This year Cannon anticipates more than 600 people to help reach their goal of $40,000.
“I’ve been playing hockey, coaching hockey in Western New York for 33 or 34 years so I kind of reached out to all my all-time buddies,” he said. “It’s evolving every year.”
Aside from Ledyard, Sabres alumni expected to be on hand are Don Luce, Derek Smith, Richard Smehlik, Michael Peca, Kevyn Adams, Jay McKee and Andrew Peters.
“It should be neat,” Cannon said, noting that Sabres president Ted Black may make an appearance as well. “It should be a really cool day and the Sabres are sending some of their big alumni out.”
