A handful of high school students from West Ferris and Chippewa are banding together once again to host what they hope is another successful hockey tournament honouring the life of Jack Lyons.
Jack Lyons was a Chippewa student who became an integral part of the Chippewa community. Additionally, Jack was an avid hockey supporter playing for the North Bay North Stars, and a fan of the North Bay Battalion and Powassan Voodoos. He passed away suddenly in April of 2022.
Last year, the first annual Jack Lyons Memorial Hockey Exhibition was a huge success raising $15 000 for the Jack Lyons Autism Summer Camps at One Kids Place, honouring the life of Jack Lyons, promoting autism awareness and acceptance, and building community and school spirit between Near North District School Board.
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The hockey event involving Chippewa, West Ferris and the North Bay North Stars special hockey team will take place on Thursday, March 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Bay's Memorial Gardens.
The exhibition will include a North Bay North Stars vs. NNDSB game, CSS Intermediates vs. WFSS intermediates game, CSS Girls vs. WFSS girls game, and CSS Boys vs. WFSS Boys game.
Mark Lyons, the father of Jack Lyons, is amazed to see the students and the schools coming together to run this event again.
He credits organizer Jenna Wilson, a former classmate of Jack's for continuing to build the event.
"It is overwhelming to see the passion that Jenna has and her kindness and it means so much to our family and has been just so overwhelming," said Lyons.
"People like her helped push us through our difficult days. It's just overpowering to see the support around the community."
Organizers will be accepting donations for the Jack Lyons Autism Summer Camps held at One Kids Place at the door and collecting prior to the event.