The Vytality Vipers are back in the 2024 Gordie Howe CARES Pro-Am hockey tournament
Once again, our Hockey team the Vytality Vipers have entered the Gordie Howe CARES Pro-Am hockey tournament.
During the weekend, Brad and the Vipers will be taking part in the Gordie Howe CARES Pro- Am hockey tournament held at the Flames Community Arena in Calgary. This popular fundraising tournament is a non-stop two days of games where amateur teams plus one of the NHL Alumni compete against each other on the ice.
Off the ice, there is also competition to raise the highest amount of funds for Gordie Howe CARES which has a strong focus on supporting caregivers.
The substantial amount raised each year goes to supporting caregivers in the areas of research, education and support services. So far, even before the event starts, the donations have equalled over $1,606,000.
You can help boost the funds raised by sponsoring one (or more) of our team players – see our Vytality Vipers page for details
The Vipers are back….
Before you can enter a team in the Gordie Howe Pro Am, you have to raise a minimum amount of $25,000. This year we’ve raised almost twice as much as last year – a massive $60,000 and counting – and that’s before our team even steps onto the ice!
Please support the Vytality Vipers and dementia awareness by making a donation now.
Vytality at Home are also the official Wine Sponsors for the event, so do raise a glass to our success!
Meet the Vytality Vipers
Our terrific team of hockey weekenders at the Flames Community Arena in Calgary this year are:
- Brad Lohman (Team Captain)
- Brett Anderson
- John Blow
- Michael Coutts
- Kris Eacrett
- Geoff Frost
- Alexander Gregory
- Jamie Harnish
- Zahinoor Ismail
- Steve McNeil
- Alex Sirard
- Ben Storey
- Andrew Walker
Our new team member
We are delighted that Dr. Zahinoor Ismail MD FRCPC is joining the Vytality Vipers team out on the ice this year!
Dr. Ismail is a Geriatric Psychiatrist and the driving force behind the CAN-PROTECT study, a nation-wide online cohort study of brain aging. Gordie Howe CARES supports this important research conducted by Dr Ismail and his team at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) and O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary. (For more details on the CAN-PROTECT study, see our blog).
Additionally, Vytality at Home works closely with Dr. Ismail and HBI to provide much needed caregiver support for the patients he sees who have Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia.
On a personal level, Brad and Zahinoor have worked together for over 15 years, and Zahinoor skated throughout his time at medical school. We look forward to passing pucks and pushing the boundaries of dementia research alongside Zahinoor for many years to come!
Why not make a Viper’s day and donate in their name? Simply visit the page below and click on a player’s name in the Team Roster. This takes you to their Personal Page, where you click the blue DONATE NOW button!
Click this link to go to the page!
The Friday night draft
Each team is allocated an NHL Alumni player to play on their team at a special Draft event on Friday night. We have absolutely no idea which hockey hero we might draft this year, but that’s why this tournament is so much fun!
The Vipers in action
Each team in the tournament gets to play three games, two on Saturday and one on Sunday. Come cheer on the Vytality Vipers at the Flames Community Arenas:
Saturday May 25th 2024
2:00pm Gold Rink against the Goodbuggers
4:30pm Red Rink against the Westjet Flyers
Sunday May 26th 2024
11:45am Blue Rink against the Scotia Storm
Caring for the caregivers
The Gordie Howe CARES supports caregivers too, such an important and demanding role for so many. As the organization says:
“Gordie Howe CARES provides education and support to the caregivers that selflessly dedicate their time caring for loved ones affected with Alzheimer’s and dementia related diseases, so they are never alone on their journey.“
Please donate if you can. Whatever you can donate will go to this cause very close to our hearts, and help people living with or alongside dementia in Calgary.
Show your support on social media
Feel free to wish us good luck on Facebook, Twitter, Insta, TikTok and more, by sharing this post using the Share icons below.
Or write your own and use the social media tags: #gordiehowecaresPro-Am #calgaryhockey #VytalityVipers #GoTheVipers
Keep an eye on our social media for updates and results from the events as it happens!
Facebook: @VytalityAtHome
Instagram: @vytalityathome
LinkedIn: @vytality-at-home
Go the Vipers!
