On November 17, the Fergus Whalers hockey club will play for a special cause.
The team will host the Mitchell Hawks in Arthur for a Home on the Road game, with a donation being presented to the Get in Touch for Hutch foundation for mental health. Myrna Hutchison, who started the organization after losing her son Steven to suicide, says it's amazing to have another local team get involved in furthering the importance of mental health.
"We're just so excited to have this new hockey team joining us in Arthur, and I'm just looking forward to another night of great community, supporting these two teams coming to town, and spreading some mental health awareness while we're there," Hutchison explained. "The importance of this cause has caught on and people are now willing to bring the conversation into the dressing rooms and the arenas, like the Fergus Whalers and Mount Forest Patriots. Some of our local lacrosse teams have also joined, as well, and we're just so pleased to see that evolve. We were just talking the other day and it's such a vast difference from ten years ago when we started this jounrey, that's for sure."
Myrna also says the change in attitude toward mental health importance over the last decade has been great to see, with many new programs and organizations popping up.
"That just certainly brings a smile to my heart, when we see the funding coming through and previously, maybe the services were there and people weren't comfortable reaching out. So not overly utilized, but now the conversations are happening and people are reaching out and we just need to make sure those services are in place," added Hutchison.
Get in Touch for Hutch has run numerous walks, events, golf tournaments and hockey fundraisers over the years, and Myrna notes that they're already discussing what 2024 could look like, so stay tuned.
The game will be live on CKNX AM920 and CKNX.ca with Steve Sabourin and Johnny K. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. at the Arthur Community Centre and Arthur Minor Hockey kids get in free if they wear their Vipers jerseys. You can find out more about Get in Touch for Hutch on their website and on their social media pages, where you can donate, as well.
