For about seven years, at this time of the year the stands at the Strathmore Family Centre are filled with students from Crowther Memorial Junior High School, who are participating in Hockey 4 Hunger.

The event, which will take place this Friday, is a chance for the school to celebrate the kick-off to their pod-wars food drive.

It’s also a chance for students from the school’s hockey academy to play two on-ice games and showcase their skills in front of a large crowd of their peers.

“It’s a pretty fun event.” said teacher Brad Huntley.

When asked how he feels about the school being able to give back to the community Huntley said, “It’s fantastic. It gives the hockey kids the chance to show their abilities, what kind of hockey players they can be. Once they see the amount of food that we actually do raise, they are just blown away.”

This year the students playing in the game will be a combination of Grade8 and 9 students.

“It is the last ice time before the December break where all of the kids are back in regular phys-ed for social dance. It also is our kick-off to our pod wars food drive at the school. The entire school comes to watch the game,” said Huntley.

He explained that it's an inter-squad game with team red playing against team black.

All of the food raised goes to support the local food bank.

“It does mean a lot because it goes to show that hockey, school, and community go hand-in-hand,” Huntley said.

The event is not open to the public, it is put together by the Crowther Memorial leadership and hockey program as a way to kick start their food drive, which is held throughout the month of December.

“It is nice. It is a really good thing, and we are pretty excited about it,” he said.