On Friday, Nov. 8, the Cowichan Ol' Hustlers had their 23rd Annual hockey tournament to raise funds for ALS and while spirits were high after yet another successful fundraising event, the team took some time to recognize and honour two of its inaugural members.
Co-founder Jim Dias and inaugural member Harold Boyden both saw their jerseys retired following the tournament, though both retired from 40 years of active participation in the 2023-24 season.
The Hustlers were originally formed by Dias, Peter Lawson, Ted Webb and Gord Clossen back in 1983 with the dual purposes of creating an old timers hockey team and also a team that contributed to the community in a meaningful way.
"Over the 40 years the Hustlers have contributed over $150,000 to the Providence Farm Therapeutic Riding Program, KidSport Cowichan, the B.C. Cancer Society and MS Societies and the ALS Society of B.C." team spokesperson Ernie Mansueti said. "These two individuals were key organizers and contributors to all those endeavours."
For more than half of the team's existence, they've played for ALS.
"The Ol’ Hustlers’ dedication to supporting the ALS Society of B.C. for the last 23 years has personal significance for the group," Mansueti explained. "Former players Joe Dougherty and Rick Wilkinson, both diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), inspired the community to come together and make a difference. The memory of these players and the ongoing battle against ALS fuel The Ol’ Hustlers’ commitment to this cause."
This year, in addition to celebrating the hockey careers of Dias and Boyden, the team was able to celebrate raising more than $ 6,000 for the ALS Society of B.C. to continue the tradition of giving back.
