Staff members from the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge last week, standing united beneath a front loader which poured ice water over them for over a minute, in support of a worthy cause. 

PHPA Ice Bucket Challenge Video

Taking the challenge not only helped add to the fundraising effort for ALS, but raised further awareness towards former PHPA Member and Player Representative Mitch Wilson, who is fighting the disease.  Wilson was recently featured in an article by Elliotte Friedman for CBC Sports: http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2014/08/ex-nhler-mitch-wilson-fights-good-fight-as-als-sufferer.html.

Once the bucket was empty, staff members took turns challenging fellow colleagues and organizations, including office staff from the American Hockey League, ECHL, and Central Hockey League, as well as partners Scotiabank, BFL CANADA Risk and Insurance Services Inc., Sutton Special Risk, Meritain Health, Athabasca University, players and staff involved with the Fire and Emergency Training Institute (FESTI) program, as well as any player who had ever played with or against Mitch Wilson. 

The PHPA thanks Walker Industries Holdings Ltd. in Niagara Falls, Ontario for hosting the event, John Beam Ice Supplies, True Blue Water, L. Walter & Sons Excavating Ltd., Signature Signs, Daniel R. Rodrique Independent Productions, and Larry Vaughan from Ground Aerial Maintenance Service Ltd. for their assistance in making the charitable initiative a success. 

For more information on ALS or to make a donation, please visit: http://www.alsa.org/fight-als/ice-bucket-challenge.html