'A commitment to friendship': P.E.I. hockey tournament becomes sentimental

An annual charity hockey tournament in an old potato warehouse on P.E.I. is a little more sentimental for a group of friends this year.

The group about 40 strong is playing Saturday in honour of their friend Morgen McInnis, who died in a motorcycle accident last summer.

"Everybody knows why we're there this year and everyone knows what we're doing it for this year," said Steve Walsh. "So, I expect the atmosphere is going to be fun, competitive ... but, certainly this will be a more sentimental year."

Potato warehouse to rink

For 15 years, they've been holding a hockey tournament in a warehouse on the Walsh potato farm in Watervale. When Walsh's father stopped harvesting potatoes in the 1990s, Steve and his brothers turned it into a rink and began hosting casual games of hockey.

I expect the atmosphere is going to be fun, competitive ... but, certainly this will be a more sentimental year.- Steve Walsh

As they became older, the group which included McInnis started using the games to raise money for charities.

When McInnis died, the 28 year old leftbehind a wife and young family.The group decided to hold this year's tournament in his honour.

"He was a genuine friend," Walsh said. "He never had an ill will toward anyone. I can't think of anyone that didn't like him."

More than $6,000 raised

With the help of a GoFundMe page, the group has already surpassed its $5,000 fundraising goal, raising almost $6,200 so far.

But Walsh said for McInnis's family and friends, it's not about how much money is raised.

"It's not about dollars and cents, it's about remembering and honouring a good friend," Walsh said. "It's about a commitment to friendship."

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