The Greater Toronto Hockey League is proud to announce the inaugural Moustache Cup raised $34,853 in support of Movember.
On the ice, the Moustache Cup featured the Under-16 Toronto Marlboros and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens facing off on November 19 at Mattamy Athletic Centre. The game, in addition to $2000 raised, saw the Jr. Canadiens take home the Moustache Cup in front of over 800 people in the stands, and a broadcast by Hubberd Studios streamed on CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem, and the CBC Sports app. To view the photos from the first ever Moustache Cup game, visit the complete G Gallery here.
Off the ice, the Marlboros and Jr. Canadiens went head-to-head in a fundraising battle in the annual “Movember” event, which traditionally involves the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as men’s mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. The challenge began on November 2 and wrapped up on December 9. In just over a month, the Marlboros captured the Moustache Cup fundraising challenge with $18,040.91 raised. The Jr. Canadiens raised $12,998.01, while a team of GTHL Officials contributed $1230 to the cause.
“The GTHL congratulates, the U16 Toronto Marlboros, Toronto Jr. Canadiens, and the team of GTHL Officials for their fantastic efforts in raising over $32,000 together for the Movember Foundation as part of the inaugural Moustache Cup,” said Scott Oakman, GTHL Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. “Aside from providing fans with an entertaining and exciting hockey game, the efforts by both teams on and off the ice – including their commitment as a collective group to Movember’s Breaking the Ice programming – has set a standard for teams that will participate in this event in future years.”
On December 20, the Marlboros were officially presented the trophy as winners of the 2022 Moustache Cup Fundraising Challenge.
Additionally, leading up to the Moustache Cup game, both teams, including coaches, parents/guardians, and players, participated in the Movember: Breaking the Ice program. The program, delivered by Movember, teaches athletes how to start conversations around mental health, recognize warning signs and develop skills to help a friend or teammate who might be experiencing challenges in their life. Parents and guardians learn how to better recognize, understand, and manage mental health struggles in their family, including how to start a conversation when something may be wrong and a deeper understanding of the support channels available.
For coaches, the Breaking the Ice program helps the individual understand, recognize, and manage mental health concerns among athletes while gaining important skills to underpin youth mental health. It helps coaches and officials recognize the warning signs of mental health struggles and learn how to start a conversation with players and/or parents, while gaining a stronger understanding of their own mental health with knowledge of support channels available.
For more information on the Breaking the Ice program, visit breakingtheice.ca.
About Breaking the Ice
Breaking the Ice uses hockey to teach athletes, parents, and coaches how to talk about mental health. The program reviews how to recognize mental health issues, what to do and when to get help. Athletes learn how to build resilience and overcome challenges in hockey and life. Learn more at breakingtheice.ca.
About Movember
Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s health on a global scale, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. The charity raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier, and longer lives. Committed to disrupting the status quo, millions have joined the movement, helping fund over 1,250 projects around the world. In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected, and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives. The charity’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. To donate or to learn more, please visit Movember.com.
About the Greater Toronto Hockey League
Founded in 1911, the GTHL is a non-profit organization and the largest minor hockey league in the world. The GTHL registers more than 40,000 annual participants in Markham, Mississauga, Toronto, and Vaughan. The purpose of the GTHL is to govern organized hockey for youth within its jurisdiction, and to foster participation that reflects the cultural demographic of the League’s territory while promoting an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all participants.
