Lakers Military appreciation night returns

Once again this year Nipissing University is holding an event to appreciate the contributions of the military.

For the last six years, the Nipissing Lakers men’s hockey team has played the RMC Paladins and funds raised from the game support the local Military Family Resource Centre.

This year’s game is Saturday night at 7 at Memorial Gardens. 

It’s also homecoming weekend and organizers says they’ve raised $20,000 from the first six years of the event.

The Lakers will be wearing camouflaged uniforms which will be auctioned off after the game.

22 Wing Commander Col Henrik Smith says military members are away 24 hours a day , 7 days a week and that means spouses become single parents and the resource centre makes a big difference.

Several local officers have received training at RMC and Col Smith says they may feel a conflict on game night.

Col Smith says he did not get his training at RMC so he will be cheering for the Lakers.

Lakers coach Mike McParland says his team will have a busy stretch of road games after this one so it’s important they take advantage of home ice.