Ice hockey tournament supporting Golisano Children’s Hospital includes outdoor festival for the entire community, with live music, food trucks and more.
Fairport, N.Y. — Now in its third year, Rochester Jr. Americans, Rochester’s largest youth hockey organization, is hosting a fundraising tournament and outdoor festival to benefit Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Foundation and Golisano Children’s Hospital on Saturday, August 5, at Rochester Ice Center, 80 Lyndon Rd, Fairport. The outdoor festival is open to the entire community from noon to 6 p.m.
The outdoor festival will feature live music from The Living Room Session, Begging Angels and Tommy Brunett Band. Attendees can bid on silent auction items, including a suite at an upcoming Rochester Americans or Rochester Knighthawks game and other autographed hockey items. There will also be food trucks, a beer tent, a used hockey equipment sale and games. Special visits are planned by Rochester Americans’ Moose and RIT Hockey. All proceeds will benefit Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Foundation for Golisano Children’s Hospital.
In addition, the Jr. Amerks youth hockey organization will host a 3v3 fundraising tournament indoors at Rochester Ice Center throughout the day. Nearly 200 Jr. Amerks players will participate in this 3v3 tournament, which includes games and the Jr. Amerks Slap Shot Challenge, where players will compete to win prizes for the hardest slap shot in each age division. Last year, the Jr. Amerks raised over $7,500 for Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Foundation.
The Hockey Buddies Charity Cup game will follow the Jr. Amerks 3v3 tournament at 6 p.m. at Rochester Ice Center.
“Each year we receive outpouring support from the community attending this event, and it’s inspiring to be a part of it,” said Jennifer O’Donnell, one of the founders of Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Foundation, and mother of Kyle O’Donnell. “This all started with our son Kyle’s vision and determination, and we hope this year’s event will get him closer to reaching his goal of helping Golisano Children’s Hospital improve the experience for both children and families who visit the hospital.”
Kyle O’Donnell, 18, is a former Jr. Amerks player who was diagnosed with pediatric cancer in 2021. He underwent treatment at Golisano Children’s Hospital, and started the Slap Shot Challenge Foundation as a way to support a health, fitness and well-being program for oncology patients and their families as they deal with the stress, pressure and anxiety of oncology treatments. Recently, Kyle participated in the Rochester Americans Honorary Captain of the Game program to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital. On July 18, he helped the Amerks present the Hospital with a $23,876.95 check from funds raised through the auction of jerseys and patient-designed ties and pucks. Kyle is a 2022 graduate of Fairport High School.
Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Tournament & Festival is sponsored by Wegmans, Rochester Ice Center, Brand Specialties, Doodle Bugs! Children’s Learning Academy, The DiMarco Group, Turner Engineering, Woods Oviatt Gilman, McCarthy’s Tents & Events, Wright Beverage, Lefrois Builders, Billitier Electric, DWC Mechanicals, Royal Oak Trust, Larry Masci Electric, Next Level Strength and Conditioning, Rentals To Go, Ray Sands Glass, and Mr. Glass. For more information, visit Jr. Amerks Kyle’s Slap Shot Tournament or Kyle’s Slap Shot Challenge Foundation.
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