Click here to subscribe today or Login.
NANTICOKE — A downpour of rain didn’t stop Saturday’s Hockey Fights Cancer benefit at the Quality Hill Playground in Nanticoke.
For the fourth year in a row, Shawn and Lauren Myers, of Nanticoke, put on the street hockey benefit. Nearly $6,000 has been donated to the Medical Oncology Prescription Fund in Kingston thanks to the event, according to Lauren.
“After Shawn’s mom died of cancer, he decided to get involved,” Lauren said.
The park was closed for the day to make way for the benefit. Street hockey teams used the basketball court and played 10-minute games in a round-robin tournament. Those who looked to loosen up between their games practiced on the tennis courts.
Aubrey Kennedy, of Shickshinny, has known the Shawn and Lauren for years and came to help out. Kennedy said she came early and will stay late to help clean up.
“The turnout is great,” Kennedy said. “Stuff is always going on.”
As for the splash of rain that came during the day, Kennedy said everyone “was a good sport about it.”
John Hirt, of Wright Township; Rob VanPelt, of Berwick; and Tony Lash, of Jeddo, were three players for the Flying Llamas.
“Llamas with wings,” Hirt said.
The team came prepared with a tent and stayed dry during the rain. The Llamas also played in the three previous benefits, according to Lauren.
“It brings people out, and we play hockey,” Lash said. “What else is better?”
Lash, the Llama’s goaltender, said the event was personal for him since his grandfather died of cancer.
The Flying Llamas play in a Hazleton street hockey league and had shirts to prove their legitimacy.
“It keeps you out of trouble,” Lash said about hockey.
“I call it my hockey therapy,” VanPelt said.
The $10 entrance fee allowed event-goers the chance to see each game and enjoy food and non-alcoholic drinks. A dunk tank, sponsored by the Wyoming Valley Hockey League, was also collecting money, allowing people a chance to dunk players.
Lee Getts brought his two children — Liam, 10, and Elias, 7 — to see what everything was about.
“It’s fun,” Elias said of the day after throwing a few balls at the dunk tank. He was able to dunk Matthew Meade, a teacher from his school.
“It was fun dunking someone I know,” Liam said, who also dunked the teacher.
The boys, who have gone to a few Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins games, were interested in the street sport as well, though they didn’t quite understand the rules.
“They’re still young,” Lee said.
