‘It brings everyone together’: Charity hockey game hopes to break fundraising record

Dalhousie commerce and engineering students faceoff to raise money for cancer research.

Two of Dalhousie University’s biggest faculty rivals are returning to the ice on Saturday, to raise money for a special cause.

“The funds go towards the Canadian Cancer Society, specifically the Halifax Lodge That Gives. Each year, we aim to outdo our goal and last year our goal was $63,000 dollars. This year we’re aiming to raise around $70,000 for the cancer society,” says Andi Fabien, Dalhousie Commerce Society president.

The 2025 game between students in the Commerce and Engineering faculties, brought out more than 2,200 supporters.

The event began in 2023 and has raised more than $240,000 for the cancer society to date.

“I’m ecstatic for Saturday’s game… My parents are flying out from Ontario, so a lot on the line,” says Matthew King, a player with Dalhousie Commerce’s hockey team.

“It brings everyone together and we’re really looking forward to it.”

With thousands of people expected to be in attendance this year, Al Hayeems, the coach of Team Commerce, hopes to defend their title.

“This is going to be heated. It’s going to be competitive. It’s a rivalry at the end of the day. So, this is for a great cause, and that’s what’s most important, but we’re looking to win absolutely,” says Hayeems.

The puck will drop at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Halifax Forum.

“I would love to see some more community members come out and support. It’s an event that the Dalhousie community really does look forward to and I’m really happy to be putting it on and making it bigger this year,” says Fabien.

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