More than a dozen military hockey teams, including several from Europe, faced off in a tournament in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, this weekend to raise money for charity on behalf of a fallen Canadian comrade.
Seventeen teams signed up for this year's tournament to honour Lieut. Chris Saunders, who died in a fire on board HMCS Chicoutimi on Oct. 5, 2004, as the submarine travelled from Scotland to Canada.
Lieut. Sean Carnew of the Royal Navy took part in the rescue mission aboard Chicoutimi, and said the tournament "has been a bit emotional" due to his personal ties to the tragedy.
But he also said the event provides an opportunity to meet the friends and family of the man whose life he tried to save, as well as reconnect with personnel who were also part of the rescue mission.
"It's always nice to meet guys that you met a few years ago when you had a harrowing experience with them," Carnew told CTV Atlantic. "And then to see them again on the ice, where it's all good, it's all fun, that's what sports is for. To put us all together and have a good time."
The Chicoutimi was on its way to Halifax from Faslane, Scotland, when water flooded into the submarine, which started an electrical fire in the commanding officer's cabin. Fifty-five sailors were on board at the time, and three had to be airlifted to hospital for treatment. Saunders was the only crew member who did not survive.
Patrick Berens played on a German team that was recruited to join the tournament by a Canadian who served on the Chicoutimi and is now stationed overseas.
"He told us about the history of Chris Saunders and we said, ‘Okay, let's go over there,'" Berens said.
The tournament serves as a fundraiser, with each team paying a $650 entrance fee to take part.
The first year the tournament was held, funds raised were donated to an education fund for Saunders's children. Since then, money has been donated to a different charitable cause each year. The proceeds from this year's tournament will go to a family of a submariner who is battling brain cancer.
One team, captained by Sylvain Morin, decided to pay double this year.
"A lot of the guys felt we should give up a little more than the minimum required," Morin said. "Everybody thought that it was just a normal thing to do, there were no questions."
Tournament organizer, Sebastien Latulippe, served on the Chicoutimi with Saunders, and calls the tournament a fitting way to pay tribute to his friend.
"You're showing everybody that this is the way to live your life," Latulippe told CTV Atlantic. "Enjoy the moment, celebrate life. So I think we're celebrating Chris's life by doing this every year."
