Players are getting ready to lace up for the 10th annual Kimmett Cup.

The three on three pond hockey tournament kicks off today at Mitford Pond and runs throughout the weekend (January 19-21) as it looks to raise $125,000 for Children's Wish and $20,000 for Children's Cottage Society.

Organizer, Reid Kimmett shares 56 teams will partake in the main Kimmett Cup tournament which gets underway tonight and runs through Saturday, while 16 Cochrane Minor Hockey teams will compete in the 'Spirit Bear' youth tournament. 

If you have never been to the Kimmett Cup it will be a beautiful weekend to take it in. "It's a unique format, it's a 3 on 3 coed tournament so we have a rule that there needs to be a girl on the ice at all times. So quite often there are families playing together with fathers, sons, brothers, daughters, sisters whatever it may be, all playing together which is kind of a unique opportunity you don't see that a lot. And really it is just a good way to capture the spirit of what makes Cochrane great and what makes Canada what it is too. It's just a beautiful thing to stand on the sidelines watch it and take it all in."

The Lion's Event Centre will be known as the 'Slewfoot Saloon' tomorrow offering up additional entertainment. "We're going to start at noon on Saturday and our actual banquet kicks off at 6:30. It is open to absolutely anyone even if that's the first time you have heard of Kimmett Cup and you're interested, you can go there and we'll have trophy presentations and a few speeches and an opportunity to sit back and toast a happy, positive day."

Besides Reid's sister Lindsay Leigh Kimmett being remembered this weekend, Ambassador and Advocate for Children's Wish, Tristan Garrett, who past on December 22, 2017, will also be honoured and recognized. "I would say part of his legacy is the impression he made on all of us and it has pushed us to think beyond ourselves and encourage others to give and embody what Tristan was all about, even during the darkest moments of his life."

Each year the Kimmett Cup looks to better and grow the event whether in numbers or the tweaking details to make it a positive, memorable experience for all.

With yesterday (January 18) being declared as Children's Wish Day, help the Kimmett's reach their goals by donating HERE or to Tristan Garrett's fundraising page which was a personal wish of his. "We're hoping to raise $10,000 which would be the equivalent to one children's wish. So if that was a way a person wanted to get involved that would mean a great deal to the organizers, my parents, and Tristan's family by making a donation to HIS PAGE and make him the top fundraiser of the event."

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52 Stories: Kelly and Dianne Kimmett