Aaron Chatha

Multimedia Journalist

A & W will be hosting their second annual 4 on 4 Street Hockey Tournament this summer, in order to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis. Three divisions of teams, made up of under-15, co-ed and competitive teams, will play across three different weekends in August, one for each team.

"I think it's great," said store manager Will Whatley. "We did a quick one last year, we had eight teams participate. They came to me a week before they wanted to do it and we sort of threw it together. But it was a lot of fun."

Games will start at 2 p.m. on each game day. Teams may have a maximum of eight players, with four players plus the goalie in play at a time. Games will be about 20 minutes in length and played round robin style, ensuring each team gets in three games. Registration is $100 per team and winning teams will get $150 to split.

"It seems like a really cool activity that everyone can get involved in," Whatley said. "At the same time, we're raising awareness and it's really nice to see my teenager get involved, want to take part in fund raising activities and showing community support rather than just being worried about themselves."

The tournament is part of a larger effort to raise money for the MS Society of Canada. Whatley split his staff into five teams, each working on a different fund raising project. Two of his teams came together to organize the tournament.

According to the MS Society of Canada, Canadians have one of the highest rates of MS in the world. It is an unpredictable, often disabling disease which attacks the central nervous system, which is composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms ranges from depression and dry mouth to spasms, useless hand syndrome, chronic pain and more.

The MS Society of Canada is not only researching a cure, but also helps those living with a diagnosis of MS through volunteers and health professionals.

For more information or to register for the hockey tournament, drop by Strathmore A & W or call them at (403) 934-3724.