Webb’s Machinery contributes to World’s Longest Hockey Game with zamboni delivery

To help break a world record and support cancer research, Webb’s Machinery made a special zamboni delivery to the World’s Longest Hockey Game in Sherwood Park. The Longest Game kicks off today in an effort to break their own Guinness World Record of 251 hours, 7 minutes, and 58 seconds (which they achieved in 2018).

Former NHLer and Edmonton Oiler Kyle Brodziak, is originally from St. Paul, and will be a participant this year.

Brodziak recently told OilersNation that he lost his father to cancer while he was only 14-years-old, meaning that his dad never got to witness his professional hockey career. Now he will not only be playing to honour his father, but to show his own sons just how much spirit you can fit on one sheet of ice.

With locations in Vermilion, Wainwright, Consort, Lavoy, Vegreville, and St. Paul, Webb’s Machinery is known for their community contributions and Peter Polischuk, a sales consultant in Lavoy, has been involved with The World’s Longest Game for several years.

He was able to deliver the zamboni that had been loaned from Industrial Machine Inc. in Ardrossan.

“These games don’t happen every year. The very first one was a small scale way to get together and have some fun,” said Polischuk.

“The proceeds all stay within Alberta, and now they go for 10 days straight – non stop, 24 hours a day, taking shifts.”

He said it takes quite a sacrifice and a commitment, and that Ryan Warawa (from Mundare) will also be one of the 40 players.

While being a customer, Warawa and Polischuk are both executives on the Mundare Ag Society, and while coming or going from a meeting one day they coordinated a way to get a zamboni to the game.

He was thankful they were fortunate enough to have a company truck and trailer they could use for a few hours to get it there.

“It’s somebody who knows somebody – people always step up and get the job done. This was just the little part that we did,” said Polischuk.

The Longest Game has raised over $5 million so far to support cancer research at the U of A as well as patients at the Cross Cancer Institute (which is the closest specialized facility for any Lakeland resident).

The World’s Longest Game states that one-quarter of all Albertans will be diagnosed with cancer, and of those, half of them are fatal. Organizer, Brent Saik lost both his father and his wife to cancer and has been fundraising in their honour for the past 25 years, not just with the hockey game, but baseball, and other efforts.

Both Brodziak and Warawa have surpassed their $10,000 fundraising goal, with Brodziak raising $13,800 and Warawa raising $13,575 so far.

“There are all kinds of people that do things behind the scenes to make this thing work,” said Polishuk.

“The players have gotten approval from AHS, have created their own bubble, and are isolating and testing (for COVID) every day.”

Nathan Cadieux, who hails from Lac La Biche originally, will also be one of three goaltenders.

For more information or to donate you can visit https://worldslongestgame.ca/