Bears roar for Coach4Food

The St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Bears hockey team were put through their Coach4Food practice and responded with more than a ton of food for Tom Hedican's 2010 fundraiser for the North Bay Food Bank.

The Bears total of 2,017 pounds was a combination of sponsorship by Venasse Construction, a donation from Bears Youth Association Bingo and non-perishable food items. That shot Hedican's total to 21,890 pounds.

On another note, Wagg's Petroleum Equipment Ltd. has added to the total brought in previously by the West Ferris Fern's Heating Flames under- 16 ringette team. With a cash donation, Wagg's added 750 more pounds to push Coach4food above the 11-ton mark at 22,640 pounds.

Coach4Food, whereby Hedican puts local hockey and ringette teams through a series of European professional and NHL skill drills, was inspired by rock star Bruce Springsteen's work with food banks in Canada and the United States. The practices will continue until Dec. 23 when the grand total will be announced. Last year was a record year for Hedican's fundraiser, bringing in 76,319 pounds of food and monetary donations.