This weekend, long-time friend of the blog Eric Rigsby will be helping out with a two-day hockey tournament to benefit Frederick County’s Kline Hospice House. There’ll be good hockey to watch (I’ve watched these guys play; they’re semi-amazing) and a huge raffle with a lot of prizes.

I’ll let Eric explain.

The Donkeys Kick Cancer hockey tournament will feature two divisions of “high quality beer league hockey” players trying to bring awareness and support to Hospice House. The tournament will be held at Skate Frederick from January 2-3. Games will be played from 9am Saturday through 8pm Sunday. Several players’ families have benefited directly from the excellent care and services provided by hospice to loved ones during very difficult, recent times. Hockey players of all levels are very appreciative and generous by nature so, this is a perfect cause for the inaugural Donkeys Kick Cancer tournament.

Staff from the Kline Hospice House will have a table setup during the tournament to distribute information and accept donations. The tournament will also be selling limited edition merchandise with the sweet tournament logo, to benefit Kline Hospice House. We want to spread the word and get people to come support the Kline Hospice House while having fun with the local hockey community. We hope this becomes an annual event that will raise awareness and support for many organizations that help people in need.

Eric tells me the winning team of the tourney will receive this championship belt.

So, in summary, here’s what you need to do:

• Put this address into your GPS: Skate Frederick, 1288 Riverbend Way, Frederick, MD
• Drive to Frederick if you do not already live in Frederick.
• Walk in, preferably wearing a Caps or RMNB t-shirt.
• Say hi and high-five me when you walk in.
• Watch some hockey and or chirp some of the players on the ice.
• Win some awesome raffle prizes, which includes gift certificates to some of the best restaurants in the area and hockey merch. The full list is here.
• Smile because you know you’re helping a good cause

And that’s how you start off 2016 right.

For more information, check out the Donkeys Kick Cancer’s press release.