‘Heroes Cup Hockey’ Charity Tournament To Finish Sunday In Marlborough
By Mike “Sarge” Riley, 98.5 The Sports Hub (@Sarge985)
Sudbury Firefighter Mike Matros is chairing a new event at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough. “Heroes Cup Hockey” is in partnership with the Boston Bruins.
The tournament started in 2016, when Matros held a charitable game between Sudbury and Framingham fire departments raising over $15,000 for the “Last Call Foundation” in memory of Boston Firefighter Michael Kennedy.
Just two years later, the tournament now has 1,800 players forming 80 separate teams from 27 states and three different countries participating. As well as several Bruins alumni including Ray Bourque, Ken Hodge Jr., Chuck Kobasew, and Andrew Alberts.
“It’s really amazing seeing the growth of this tournament just being three years old,” Matros told 985TheSportsHub.com. “And the best part is that this is all for charity.”
With the format of teams choosing the charity organization they want to play for, the Waltham Police and Fire Department raised the highest amount – $50,000 this weekend for the One Mission – helping out kids with pediatric cancer.
And on the heels of the tragedy in Yarmouth, Mass., when Officer Sean Gannon was killed in the line of duty, a group of police officers on the Cape called “The Cape Cod Black Knights” made 750 patches for sale. And according to Matros, they sold out in less than an hour of opening night on Friday. The team also auctioned off a jersey with Gannon’s name on it, raising $2,000 for his family.
“This tournament is another reason to bring us all together other than a funeral for one of the fallen,” Matros said.
The tournament concludes on Sunday afternoon at the New England Sports Center. For more information visit HeroesCupHockey.com.
