The snow and cold made it feel more like ice hockey than roller hockey at the Reynoldsville Rollerdrome on January 26 as it hosted the 2019 Randy Carlson Tournament.
The Reynoldsville Rollerdrome Xtreme Hockey League (XHL) hosts the event on a yearly basis to benefit someone fighting cancer. This year the money raised will go to the family of 2-year-old Bently Landis who was diagnosed with leukemia.
Rollerdrome owner Dave Schuckers said 18 teams were participating this year. He said in addition to local teams there were teams from Buffalo, New York, Johnstown and Tyrone.
Organizer Bob Anderson of DuBois, who co-chairs the event with Summer Anderson, said the tournament began in 2005 to honor a former league member, Randy Carlson, who lost his life to cancer.
“Eventually the idea came to raise money on his behalf,” Anderson said.
The league also had 41 prizes for a silent auction and a pair of Pittsburgh Penguin tickets to boost the donation totals. In addition, Dave Wruble of the Sub Hub shop in Reynoldsville donated a container of goulash to sell by the bowl to raise additional funds. He said he also planned to donate a portion of the day’s proceeds that he makes at his sandwich shop in Reynoldsville to the effort. Schuckers and his wife, Jennifer, donated the use of the rink for the day.
“[We’re] just trying to raise a lot of money for a good cause,” Anderson added.
The tournament was very successful. At last count, a total of over $4000.00 was raised to help Bently Landis and his parents in the fight against cancer.
Note: final tally was announced on Facebook. $4902.00.
