Skaters take on hockey marathon

It's guaranteed to be a high-scoring affair when the Flathead Performance Youth Foundation hosts a 10-hour ice hockey game this Saturday night at the Stumptown Ice Den. The scoreboard may not even have enough space to keep track of all the pucks hitting the net.

"It should be a football-type score," foundation president Mike Carey said. "Not a defensive football game either."

The marathon on ice, slated for March 13 from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following day, is part of an entire weekend of fundraising efforts for the foundation. The goal is to raise enough money through pledges to buy about 10 automated external defibrillators (AEDs' for area schools, Whitefish City Beach and the Ice Den.

Forty players, 20 on each team, will be available to play.

"That way, five players on each team can take off their skates and relax for 45 minutes," he said. "We'll be rotating goalies on three-hour shifts. They'll be the first to burn out.

"It's going to be tough to have people playing from midnight to the morning. That's where the marathon part comes in."

Carey previously participated in a 16-hour hockey match and said players were hitting the wall around the 10-hour mark.

"No one wanted to continue, but they knew they had to," he said.

The game won't have any referees, Carey said.

"It's just kind of for fun," he said

Other scheduled fundraising events include an open public skate, a silent auction and a youth hockey challenge.

The foundation needs to raise about $15,000 to purchase the 10 AEDs. If enough additional money is raised, AEDs may go to the Glacier Twins facility and the Flathead Soccer Club.

For a schedule of events, visit online at www.flatheadperformanceyouthfoundation.org.

Main Charitable Events:

10-hour adult hockey marathon starts at 9 p.m. on Saturday and concludes at 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Players in the marathon are asked to raise a minimum of $500 in pledges. The game will be played in a pick-up style. All players will receive an event jersey.

Youth Hockey Challenge Cup will be played as three 20-minute stop-time periods with a resurface midway through the second period. Teams in the challenge are asked to raise a minimum average of $200 per player. First game will start at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. Second game will start at 10 a.m.

Silent auction starts on Saturday at noon and will close Sunday morning at 10 a.m.