NYSCA Doctors Volunteer at the 11-Day Power Play Hockey Game

NYSCA District 17 doctors Sara Griffin, DC and Christopher Acquisto, DC were among a number of chiropractors who volunteered their time and services to the 11-Day Power Play Hockey Game, the longest game EVER. Buffalo’s HarborCenter played host to a continuous 11-day hockey game to raise money for Roswell Park Cancer Institute from June 22-July 3.

40 players spent over 250 hours on the ice playing their hearts out for a great cause to fight cancer. They played 11 straight days, living at the rink in downtown Buffalo. They would eat, sleep and play hockey. The players, many whom of which have their own personal stories that inspired them to play, kept them on the ice.

The previous world’s longest hockey game was held in Saiker’s Acres, Alberta, Canada on February 6-16, 2015. The players played for 250 hours 03 minutes and 21 seconds or 10 days 10 hours, 3 minutes and 21 seconds. This new unofficial Guinness World Record is now 251 hours, and waiting to be verified by Guinness.

These players never gave up. They could play a shift at all times of the day. That meant they could be playing at 11:30pm or even 4am. The 2 teams, Team Blue and Team White would each have 6 skaters per side with the sixth taking a much needed break. After completing a shift, the next group of 6 per side would take the ice, after a Zamboni cleaned the ice. These men endured sore muscles and joints, dehydration, sleep deprivation, and blisters among some of the issues.

Family and friends were among the many fans who watched. They provided much needed energy to charge up the players who were running on pure heart. One player who was a friend told me that he enjoyed having his family come to cheer him on. They came with signs, banners and even cut out faces of him on a stick in support of his efforts.

We were told by the players that they would not be able to perform without the volunteer services provided to them by the chiropractors and other health care professionals. Among the chiropractors, there were massage therapists, nutritionists, personal trainers and an orthopedic group. Chiropractic and massage therapy were stationed in a storage room. Every bit of space at the rink was used. Even the players were sleeping on mattresses in another storage room and an additional locker room. The rest of the community pitched in including restaurants which provided food for the players and volunteers.

At the end of it all, the final score was Team Blue 1725 to Team White 1697. The real winner was cancer research. The total raised for Roswell Park Cancer Institute for cancer research was around $1.2 million. It was a great honor to be a part of this in providing chiropractic services to these selfless people.

 

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