First responders in Oak Bay faced off against Oak Bay High students in the Dan McLean Challenge Cup hockey game on Sept.27 to benefit Cops for Cancer.
It was a moving start to the game as Dan McLean’s two adult children, Coralie and Jimmy, dropped the ceremonial puck in honour of their father, a police officer who lost his battle with cancer in 2013.
The game was close with Oak Bay High up by one right at the end, until first responders tied it up with just eight seconds left on the clock.
The first responders team consisted of Oak Bay Police, Fire, Ambulance, Oak Bay Recreation, Oak Bay Parks and Oak Bay Bikes staff. Oak Bay High secured a ringer this year with former NHL player Pat Holland joining the team.
The second annual Oak Bay fundraiser, with funds going directly to Cops for Cancer, included a skills competition, radar-gunning skating and shooting speeds, a shoot-out competition, and Stephanie Greaves singing “O” Canada.
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There was an outpouring of support for this initiative from the local community and businesses contributed financial support and prizes to be raffled.
As a result, Oak Bay Police added a Cops for Cancer Mclean Challenge Cup raffle. The raffle is limited to 500 tickets with prizes including a three-course dinner for four with wine pairings at the beautiful Oak Bay Marina, and three sets of Club Seat tickets to the Victoria Royals Sept. 29 game at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre (the Royals tickets were drawn by the 3rd period of the Cops for Cancer Mclean game, while the other prizes will be drawn after ticket sales close on Oct.6)
Tickets can be purchased for $2 each at the Oak Bay Police Department at 1703 Monterey Drive in Oak Bay until 4 p.m. on Oct. 6 or by contacting Sgt. Mike Martin at 250-592-2424 or mmartin@oakbaypolice.org.
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The McLean Challenge Cup hockey game was named to honour former Oak Bay police Sgt. Dan McLean.
“Dan was my sergeant and a mentor to me when I came to the department,” Martin says. “He was a good friend as well. I hope this becomes a legacy for Oak Bay and the family and for us.”
McLean was known for volunteerism and loyalty to the police department and its officers. He joined the Edmonton police in 1980 and was hired in Oak Bay in 1986, retiring in 2007. In those 21 years, he was active in the community. A huge baseball fan, he coached at various levels and served a stint as president of Oak Bay Little League. He also volunteered with Oak Bay Kiwanis and organized a collection of baseball equipment from around the region for children in Nicaragua.
After a bout with cancer, McLean died on Nov. 5, 2013 at the age of 62.
“McLean was a huge supporter of youth in this community. This is a very fitting tribute to him, ” said Oak Bay Fire Chief Dave Cockle. “It is so important that we support Cops for Cancer and these events so we can make things better for our kids and families.”
keri.coles@oakbaynews.com
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