The 2026 Docs on Ice charity hockey tournament will be held in the local region.
At its meeting on March 24, The Blue Mountains council heard about plans being made to hold the 43rd annual Doc on Ice charity hockey tournament in local communities in April 2026.
Local doctor, Mike Lewin, attended the meeting and made a presentation about the charity hockey tournament that features teams of doctors and medical students playing the greatest game on ice. The plans are to donate the proceeds from the event to Events For Life, a Thornbury-based organization that provides support to adults with intellectual disabilities.
Lewin said the tournament will be held on April 10 and 11, 2026. The annual fundraiser attracts over 70 teams and features doctors, medical residents and medical students. It is run by physicians and volunteers.
The local area hosted the event in 2010 and games were played in local areas in Collingwood, Stayner, Meaford, Thornbury and Wasaga Beach. Dr. Geoff Moran is the primary organizer of the event.
“It’s generally a very successful event,” Lewin told council. “After 43 years, the tournament is still going strong.”
Lewin said having the event in the local area is a great opportunity to showcase local communities to current doctors and medical students. Lewin said the local region will be hosting medical students in training to become doctors, residents and young physicians who are just starting out in the profession and older doctors who might be interested in a mid-career change.
Members of council were pleased to see the event returning to the local region.
“It is a great fundraiser. It brings a lot of docs to town,” said Coun. Gail Ardiel.
Mayor Andrea Matrosovs thanked Lewin for speaking to council “nice and early” a year in advance of the event.
“You’re planning ahead,” she said.
Council unanimously passed a resolution asking staff for a full report about how the town can facilitate hosting games for the tournament at the Beaver Valley Community Centre.
Ryan Gibbons, the town’s director of community services, said staff have already begun working on preliminary plans for how to host the event. Gibbons noted the April dates would require the town to leave the ice in the arena longer than most years and staff have already spoken to other user groups about it.
“This is well on its way,” he said.
A report with more details will come to council at a future committee of the whole meeting.