Crone Cup

I’m a day or so early here, but I want to talk about an Owen Sound event that started quickly 7 years ago and has grown from its grassroots to becoming a city wide function.

The 2009 Crone Cup Hockey Game is set for Friday afternoon at 1 pm at the Harry Lumley-Bayshore Community Center.

Flashback to 2003 and the Lady Falcons Hockey team at OSCVI wanted to do something to support their friend Jason Crone, who had been injured badly in a minor hockey game.

So OSCVI called their rivals at West Hill Secondary School and challenged the Lady Raiders to a fundraising hockey game at the Owen Sound Coliseum that year.

From those swift and somewhat humble beginnings, the Crone Cup was born, raised and then developed over the years to the point where it generated a healthy 5 digits for ” Shoot For A Cure ” and spinal cord research last year.

This year, continuing the pattern of growth, the event will split the proceeds from Friday’s game between ” Shoot For A Cure ” & Ian Hyland and his family.

Ian, like Jason 7 years ago, had an awful accident, and currently he is undergoing lengthy rehabilitation in Toronto, a process that Jason Crone likely knows more about than anyone.

So, a high school based fundraiser for a student in need almost a decade ago has now branched out to encompass the greater community, and Friday will see another chapter of the game and its benefits displayed in Owen Sound.

In somewhat of an irony, Jason Crone isn’t expected to be on hand at the game Friday as he’s in Vancouver preparing for the World Championship in Wheelchair Rugby.

And while Jason is responsible for his quick rise in the sport of Wheelchair rugby, I’d almost bet he’d tell you he received a huge boost in many ways from the first ever Crone Cup.

I’m Fred Wallace