Udder Tournament Returns to Caledon: Honoring Donna DeBoer's Legacy through Hockey and Community Giving

The 11th Annual Udder Tournament is set to take place in Caledon from November 7 to 9, celebrating the life and legacy of Donna DeBoer, a pioneering dairy farmer and founding member of the Caledon Women's Hockey League (CWHL). The event, a tribute to DeBoer's dedication to sportsmanship and friendship, has generated over $327,500 for the community since its inception, with a significant portion dedicated to Bethell Hospice in Inglewood.

Key Takeaways:

• The Udder Tournament is a three-day women's hockey fundraising event held in Caledon, running from November 7 to 9 at the Caledon East Community Complex.
• The event is a tribute to Donna DeBoer, a respected dairy farmer and founding member of the Caledon Women's Hockey League (CWHL) who passed away in 2011.
• All profits from the event will be dedicated to Bethell Hospice in Inglewood, a residential facility providing specialized palliative care, grief, and bereavement services for the residents of Caledon, Dufferin County, and surrounding areas.
• The tournament has generated substantial community support over the years, contributing over $327,500 back into Caledon to date.
• More than $53,000 was donated to Bethell Hospice last year.
• The event maintains a scholarship fund honouring DeBoer's work as a coach and advocate for girls' hockey, providing local female athletes with a small award, typically $1,000, to pursue post-secondary education.
• The tournament welcomes players ages 19 to 70, with eight divisions and a waitlist for player spots, which consistently fill up within a day of registration opening.
• The event relies heavily on community volunteers, with approximately 75 to 80 volunteers involved in the organization each year.
• The community is encouraged to attend the tournament, with no entry fee for spectators, and support the fundraising efforts through off-ice fundraising activities.

Statistics:

• $327,500: The total amount of funds contributed to the community by the Udder Tournament since its inception.
• $53,000: The amount donated to Bethell Hospice last year.
• $1,000: The typical amount of the scholarship award provided to local female athletes pursuing post-secondary education.
• 75-80: The approximate number of community volunteers involved in the organization each year.
• 30: The number of teams participating in the tournament each year.
• 24: The total number of recipients of the scholarship fund honouring Donna DeBoer's work as a coach and advocate for girls' hockey.

Sources:

• Caledon Enterprise