The Longest Game

Photo: Google Image

A hockey question for the hockey lover in us all. When was the longest NHL game ever played and the teams who played in it? I know you are racking your mind like I did. Need a hint or two? (just like me) The Montreal team were called Maroons, not Canadiens! (I wasn’t even born yet!)

The answer to this is: the longest game played in the NHL happened in 1936 at the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Detroit Red Wings won the cup over the Montreal Maroons, 1-0. The game lasted 176 minutes and 30 seconds.

Push forward to the 21st century and into Edmonton Alberta. Once home of the ‘Great One.’ It is also known for its beautiful cold weather. Every couple of years lots of people get together and play hockey for long periods of time. This can include older NHL’ers and city folks. Why? Its for a good cause. But along the way this year a record was broken. This year they official won the title from the Guinness Book of World Records, ‘the Longest Hockey Game’ (unofficial NHL game)

A little background is needed here. Every couple of years Edmonton hosts an event for the Cancer Foundation. All the money raised helps to buy new equipment, this year the game raised over $1 million dollars. The money will help buy a new PET/MRI scanner worth over $2.5 million. This Guinness winner game was played for 250 hours straight in Sherwood Park, a community right beside Edmonton. It was played outdoors with 40 players and former NHL’er Janne Niinimaa.

Edmonton outside right now in February. Holy skating rinks! It is a frozen tundra. Huge cold winds blow  from the northwest and stay that way until spring. Uncovered parts of human bodies are frozen when hit by winds. I have seen grown men cry with shovels in their hands praying for no more snow on their driveways.   I looked at the weather station today and well, I froze just by looking.  Even the Prime Minister of Canada took notice. Mr. Steven Harper congratulated the players and teams for their playing and charity work.

Every couple of years Edmonton does host the ‘worlds longest hockey game’. The first one was held in 2003 and it raised $150,000 for cancer. There were games in 2005, 2008 and one in 2011. The next game will be in two years. Will you be ready?