For the past five years, the Columbus Icemen have put on a “Hockey For Heroes” game or tournament to support local veterans.
Saturday night, the Icemen will be continuing that tradition when they host the Evansville Thunder at 9:15 p.m. in the “Hockey For Heroes” game. Icemen senior Blaine Humphrey has taken on the cause for his senior project.
“I’ve been playing hockey ever since I was young, and we’ve hosted these tournaments since I’ve been a freshman and before that,” Humphrey said. “I’ve always been about helping people, and with helping veterans, I couldn’t think of anything better to do for my senior project.”
Last year, the Icemen donated $3,500 to Kyle Killinger’s “300 Miles Because He’s My Brother” organization. The donations were used for home renovations for local Vietnam veteran Reggie Wilson.
In addition to the $3,500 donation, the entire Icemen team spent 10 hours doing landscaping, clean-up and renovations at the Wilson family. For the home renovation, the Wilsons received a new water heater, water softener, washer and dryer and new mud room and kitchen flooring.
So far this year, Humphrey has raised $2,600 toward his goal of $3,500. Several donors are willing to match his donations dollar for dollar up to $1,000.
Anyone who would like to donate can send donations via PayPal to [email protected] or reach out to Blaine or Sarah Humphrey at 812-314-9586 to donate with cash or check.
Individuals also can check out Humphrey’s video on Instagram at https://www.instagram.co/reel/CKkPNMzl9i4/?igshid=1m447tdp3jzph or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/242175420617/posts/10164395837380618/
Humphrey said the money raised will go toward doing something similar that the team did last year for the Wilsons.
“I was talking with coach (Isaac) Coy, and we talked about renovating a local veteran’s house and maybe do yard work and help them out with whatever they need to,” Humphrey said.
