January 10, 2025
The Tigers team and their coaches pose alongside Dan Thomas, far right, manager of the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre in Medicine Hat. Supplied.
Story by Jennifer Vanderlaan
MEDICINE HAT — In an inspiring act of community support, the South East Athletic Club (SEAC) U17 AAA hockey team, better known locally as the Tigers, recently made time to visit the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre to learn more about how their league’s continuous fundraising efforts positively impact the centre and the community.
Dan Thomas, centre manager, toured the teenage athletes around the centre after-hours, showing them state-of-the-art equipment and treatment spaces, while describing what patients experience during treatment at the centre. He also shared his appreciation and how much it means to the centre and patients to receive community support.
“You could see in their faces the connections being made,” says Thomas, “as well as the understanding of how much their support makes a difference to our patients.”
In 2015, SEAC committed to supporting people battling cancer by hosting a Cancer Awareness hockey game. Community support proved overwhelming, so SEAC made their Cancer Awareness game an annual event.
“Game day has morphed into something we’re very proud of,” says head coach Kevin Riehl. “This year we secured a larger arena to accommodate the increase in spectators.”
The funds donated by SEAC go to help local cancer patients through the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Provincial Patient Financial Assistance Program. This program provides funds to local patients who may not have the means to travel, either within the city or elsewhere, and pays for other costs associated with getting treatment not offered locally.
“It was important for our organization to fundraise within the community, for the community,” Riehl adds. “The cancer centre felt like the right place to support as all of us have been affected by the disease in one way or another.”
The tour concluded with each player writing on a piece of paper the name of someone they know who has been affected by cancer — a physical reminder of the person they intended to play for their Cancer Awareness game.
On Nov. 10, the team took to the ice in their pink jerseys to play against the U17 AAA Lethbridge Hurricanes. Despite their loss, they won huge in community support, with more than 400 people in attendance, helping to raise in excess of $11,000 — nearly double the previous year’s tally.
Since 2015, the club has raised nearly $50,000 for cancer care in Medicine Hat through silent auctions, jersey sales, 50/50 tickets and popcorn sales, with all proceeds going to the cancer centre.
SEAC’s dedication to giving back is a true inspiration and their contributions will no doubt make a lasting impact in the fight against cancer, says Thomas.
“As our centre has grown so has the team’s financial support over the years,” says Thomas. “With their support we’ve been able to improve our patients’ experiences and make an impact on more patients’ lives.”