VANCOUVER – The 3rd Annual UBC Thunderbirds Winter Classic hockey game will take on a larger meaning this year.  Prior to puck drop between the UBC Thunderbirds and Manitoba Bisons, a charity game will be held featuring both Thunderbirds and Vancouver Canucks Alumni, along with some of Vancouver's brightest names of television, film, and music.
 
Not only will the game feature stars of the ice and the screen, but will also lend a helping hand to a very worthy cause.
 
Spectators of the Winter Classic will have the opportunity to donate to the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre in exchange for autographs and photos with their favourite players, thespians and musicians. The Downtown Eastside Women's Centre provides 350 hot meals a day, clothing, shower facilities, counselling and a warm place to shelter women and children from the elements, poverty and violence.


 
The puck drops at 5:25 PM and the celebrities will have a meet and greet with fans during the first intermission of the UBC and Manitoba match-up.
 
"Not only does the support help us provide the basic needs to women and children in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside," says the centre's executive director Alice Kendall. "It also helps us in getting the word out about our organization and the work we do."
 
The need is always great for the centre, which relies heavily on donations to operate, but this winter has been particularly challenging due to the extremely cold weather and the fentanyl overdose crisis currently gripping the Downtown Eastside.


 
"A lot of the people who use our services live in the single room occupancy hotels that are poorly managed and poorly maintained," says Kendall. "During cold snaps, these people will be using our services for purpose of getting warm."
 
The record number of overdose deaths due to street drugs tainted with fentanyl is also adding to the challenges facing the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre.
 
"The fentanyl crisis impacts people in a multiple of ways. Being fearful of losing women, friends and family members who have addiction issues. The trauma surrounding that is heightened," adds Kendall. "We are tasked with making sure people are equipped in the case of an overdose. The staff at both the drop in and shelter are often administering naloxone."
 
The Downtown Eastside Women's Centre will also have a kiosk at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbirds Sports Centre on the night of the Winter Classic for those who want more information on how to help.
 

Celebrities participating 

 

• Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica)
• Fred Ewanuick (Corner Gas)
• Adam DiMarco (Arctic Air)
• Warren Christie (Motive)
• Dan Payne (Descendants) 
• Michael Coleman (Once Upon a Time)
• Jason Burkart (Once Upon a Time)
• Dylan Playfair (LetterKenny)
• Tyler Johnston (LetterKenny)
• Andrew Herr (LetterKenny)
• Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Baby Daddy)
• Lisa Durupt (Less Than Kind)
• Mike Dopud (Arrow)
• Ryan McDonnell (Battlestar Galactica)
• Ken Hegan (Writer - George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight)
• Brendan Fletcher (The Revenant)
• Brad Swaile (Death Note)
• Jason McKinnon (Level Up)

Vancouver Canucks Alumni participating

 Players

 

• Jamie Huscroft
• Mark Lofthouse
• Jyrki Lumme
• Larry Melnyk
• BJ MacDonald
• Gary Nylund
• Garry Monahan
• Eddie Hatoum
• Dave Babych
• Bob Murray
• Randy Heath?
• Rick Amann

 

Coaches

 

• Darcy Rota
• Steve Kariya
• Jackson Davies