"Hoikety Choik, Hoikety Choik, chalma chalma chee - Rickity, rackety, rickety, rackety, SCC! - Cha Hee, Cha ho, Cha-ha-ha-ha, St. Charles, St. Charles raa raa raa."
It would be hard to find a local school with a more deeply enshrined history of school spirit than St Charles College - especially as it pertains to the world of sports.
A couple of weeks ago, the New Sudbury institution combined their love of athletics and school-wide enthusiasm for a wonderful cause, hosting a morning buyout in support of Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC).
The event, which filled the school's triple gymnasium, featured internationally acclaimed basketball dunk artist Jordan Kilganon (with some extra assistance from younger brother, Chase Kilganon), as well as an intra-school floor hockey match which pitted members of the Sudbury Wolves opposite the senior Cardinals hockey team, and an appearance by the Sudbury Five.
Though she was the driving force behind it, Kristy Hebert acknowledged that the students at the school played a large part in all aspects of the fundraiser, from start to finish.
"I have to give the credit for the idea to the kids in my class," she explained. "I'm lucky enough to have a leadership class and the ideas are endless. This just happened to be the one that was the most popular. It's something everybody looks forward to."
For good reason, in a school that has enjoyed a super-strong connection to hockey, for as long as anyone can remember. "I think the kids see it as being a really good cause, and they enjoy being able to give back to the community," said Hebert.
"And then having the Sudbury Wolves players as students at our school, and so many AAA and junior players here, there are just so many kids that love hockey. I think that leads to the success of the buyout."
NOFCC Executive Director Dayna Caruso was not terribly surprised by the success of the endeavour, as she worked diligently to distribute bag after bag of fresh popcorn. "We all know somebody that has been touched by cancer," said Caruso.
"These kids here at the school have definitely experienced their peers having cancer and I think it's super important for the teachers to teach these kids what does happen when people are diagnosed, to make sure that we can help families when they need us."
The importance of the end goal is not lost in the least on OHL defenceman Jack Thompson, off to a great start to his sophomore season with the Wolves, and drawing plenty of attention regarding the NHL draft next June.
"We just want to raise as much money as we can and entertain the fans, that's our main goal here," said the 17-year-old native of Courtice. "I think it's fun, and it's good for our team."
For as much as professional hockey could well be the career of choice for the offensively-gifted blueliner, within the halls of SCC, he remains a fellow Cardinal. "We have to be role models for the kids, lead by example in the school, be a good student and a good person, on and off the ice," said Thompson.
As for the highlight from the game itself, Sudbury newcomer Kosta Manikis was drawing some love from his teammate. "He looks pretty good out there," said Thompson. "I don't know why, but he just scored again - he's pretty good."
Pretty good would likely not be strong enough for the net result of the morning festivities, as St Charles College and Holy Trinity raised more than $3700 this year, after donating just over $3000 to the cause one year ago.
