Author: Kelly Jones

Hitmen rock the WNHL Christmas Classic 2024

The Hooker Street Hitmen squeaked into the championship game on the backs of their food donation count and never looked back to claim their Championship Hats for the 2024 WNHL Christmas Classic. The tournament brought the best of the WNHL again as all four teams rallied to donate 3400 pounds of food for Open Arms Mission. We also did other things we excel at, have a good time, play some hockey and eat some Rex Hotel Pizza!!! Thanks to our sponsors the Rex Hotel and Presstime Design and Screen-printing. A special thank you to our volunteers who helped move all the donated food and handle registration.

WNHL Christmas Classic Ready to Roll out the Good Times and the Canned Goods

All eyes will be on Jack Ballantyne Memorial Arena on Saturday November 30th for the WNHL Christmas Classic. Where teams face off on the ice and with generosity of non-perishable Food Items for Open Arms Mission of Welland. Each team is guaranteed 3 games to battle it out for the most points. The first tie breaker is weight of donated foods of each team. When you show up to the tournament your team will have its donated food weighted, any fans that come to see you can bring food in your team’s name to help with the total weight in for your team. We hope to break our record of 5210 pounds of food set in 2022.

Every player is encouraged to bring as much as non-perishable food items for Open Arms Mission to help with the Food Weight. Which will be your first tiebreaker. No Beverages allowed to be donated. If you have fans of your team dropping off food for your team, make sure they do it before 3pm and have them report the team name to the registration desk in the lobby.

Here is how the tournament works:

  • Every team is guaranteed 3 games 3 – 10-minute Run time periods. The last two minutes of each period and penalties will be stop-time.
  • After each round robin game there will be a 3-shooter shootout where the opponent selects the shooters for the opposite team. The winner of the shootout will get one point in the standing. If there is no winner after 3 shooters no points will be awarded to either team.
  • After the round robin, the top two teams will play in the Championship Game for glory of being WNHL Christmas Classic Champions
  • Teams score points in the standings by winning periods (1), Game Ties (1), Game Wins (3) and shoutout wins (1)

Example #1 – if a team wins all three periods and the shootout the team will receive 7 points in the standings

Example #2 – if a team wins one period and ties the game and loses the shootout they will receive 2 points.

  • Tiebreakers go in this order, Donated Food Weight, Head to Head, Goals Against, and Goals for

What you get as a Team/Participant

  • Friendship, Fun and the sense of helping people less fortunate then you during the Holiday Season.
  • Each team gets 60 Ice cold beers in their locker room for enjoyment during the tournament (yes you will need to bring more to embrace true Holiday/Hockey Spirit Levels)
  • 5pm a party tray of pizza is delivered to your changeroom for carbo-loading.
  • 3 games and hopefully 4 of hockey magic
  • The Championship Team gets WNHL Christmas Classic Hats from Presstime Design in Welland
  • Post Game Pizza Party at the Rex Hotel

2024 WNHL Christmas Classic Schedule

Porch Pirates (Drew) – Orange Jerseys (Provided)

Hooker Street Hitmen (Younger) – Yellow Jerseys (Provided)

Maple Park Maunders (Rumsby) – Black WNHL or whatever Black Jersey

Canal Crushers (Deaner) – White WNHL or whatever White Jersey

Game TimeTeamTeam
2pmPorch Pirates (Drew)Hooker Street Hitmen (Younger)
3pmMaple Park Marauders (Rumsby)Canal Crushers (Deaner)
4pmCanal Crushers (Deaner)Porch Pirates (Drew)
5pmHooker Street Hitmen (Younger)Maple Park Marauders (Rumsby)
6pmMaple Park Marauders (Rumsby)Porch Pirates (Drew)
7pmCanal Crushers (Deaner)Hooker Street Hitmen (Younger)
8pmChampionship GameChampionship Game

$8335 Raised for McMaster Children’s Hospital!!!

They say it takes a village to raise a child, well it takes an even bigger village to help a sick child. The WNHL Community of athletes, family, friends, fans and sponsors is that bigger village that wanted to support McMaster Children’s Hospital and help get some new equipment for the NICU. This past Sunday at the Meridian Centre we were able to surpass our goal of $5000 to total out at $8335 for McMaster’s NICU. A place where many of our athletes have had to access for their own kids. Thanks to everyone who donated and promoted our event and thank you to our sponsors MT Bellies, SS Brand it, The Meridian Centre, Winger Cabinets, The Merchant Ale House, Niagara Ice Dogs and Niagara River Lions. The WNHL and our players do so much good work for the community every season and we are still having fun playing hockey, competing, drinking beer and eating pizza and burgers, now that is a healthy balance. More to come this year, stay tuned as we redefine what the term “Hockey Culture” is all about.