A student-run charity hockey series in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, has grown into what organizers describe as the region’s largest event of its kind after selling thousands of tickets for games held this month. The fundraiser reached its third year in 2026, building on a tradition of bringing the community together to support local health and sports programs.
The Pucks for Purpose Classics featured a women’s game on March 18, 2026, followed by a men’s game on March 20, 2026. Both games took place at the Charles V. Keating Centre, where student teams from the business faculty played against the arts and science faculty.
The event raises money for the Canadian Cancer Society and motionball for Special Olympics, which helps provide uniforms and equipment for local athletes. In its first two years, the fundraiser collected more than $185,000 for these causes.
Organizers state that in 2025, St. Francis Xavier University became the first university in Canada to host a women’s charity hockey game. This addition helped the group more than double the total money raised during the previous year and created a new tradition for female athletes on campus.
Organizers expected a sold-out crowd this year after ticket sales passed the 2,000 mark in late February. The student-led committee behind the games, which includes members from every faculty at the university, is led by Kaleb Boates, Kate Parker, and Jona White.
