Troy Schaab, during a break in play in the World's Longest Hockey Game, February 2021.

 

It may seem crazy to some but it’s all for a great cause, and a chance to have their names in the record books. 

Forty players and a number of volunteers have been participating in the 7th edition of the World’s Longest Hockey Game non-stop since Thursday, February 4 at Saikers Acres in Sherwood Park, just outside of Edmonton. Their goals are to play for 252 hours and to raise $1.5 million dollars in support of clinical trials at the Cross Cancer Institute at the University of Alberta. 

One of the lucky ones to play outdoors in temperatures that have plummeted to –55 with the windchill is Troy Schaab, former Lacombe resident and former co-owner and co-founder of Sunny 94. 

“I couldn’t tell you what day it is,” says Schaab, while on a break from play. “Just imagine a hockey game where instead of a 30 to 45 second shift, it’s a 5 to 6 hour shift. And then we get off, have a quick shower, go back to our trailers and wait for our next shift. It’s been a long haul and the weather hasn’t really co-operated but you just kind of keep yourself sane. It’s been crazy, I’ve never played outdoor hockey in temperatures like this but you dress for it and you make it work.” 

Schaab is no stranger to feats of endurance, having run in marathons in Las Vegas, New York and on the Great Wall of China. In 2019, he completed the grueling seven-day Atacama Crossing 250 km Ultra Marathon across the desert in Chile, with plans to tackle the Gobi Desert in Mongolia in the future. He spoke about where his motivation lies. 

“Sometimes I think you just have to try and give your body a little jolt and make sure you’re still alive and still being a part of all the excitement that goes on in this crazy world,” Schaab said. 

“I’ve been asked quite a few times which is more difficult, this or the desert run and I have to say this is more difficult. I mean anybody who lives in Central Alberta knows that these winters can get really, really ugly and I don’t know if I was really ready for this,” he says with a chuckle. “I remember when there was two nights this past week where I’ve gotten off the ice early in the wee hours of the morning and I ran back to my trailer to catch a few z’s and I walked in and there was no heat. So you had to  sneak back to the dressing room and put your head up in your stall and try and catch a couple of hours until things got rolling again.” 

Troy Schaab, left, playing in World's Longest Hockey Game in Sherwood Park. Photo by Mandi Kostiuk Photography.

As of this writing, as the game entered hour 200, the score was 2150-2077, with Schaab’s team trailing.  However he was 4th on his team in goals scored with 175, ahead of the opposing team’s former Edmonton Oiler Kyle Brodziak, who was sitting at 154. 

“That’s terrible,” Schaab joked with a laugh, showing that while the elements and exhaustion have taken their toll, he’s still in good spirits. “He’s the salt of the earth, he’s just a wonderful, wonderful guy but I’ll tell ya, when’s it’s 2:30, 3’o clock in the morning and he has the puck, you just get this feeling because it means you have to skate harder to try and catch him. We’re down a few goals but we’ll get it back, don’t worry.” 

Despite the challenging conditions, Schaab said he has no regrets. 

“I’m so grateful to be here. The people here are so awesome. There’s a great bunch of guys, the volunteers are incredible. All these covid regulations, we can’t have officials on the ice, they have to actually stand outside on the boards and that’s four refs and they’re freezing as well. There’s a lot of people that have come together to make this work and make this happen so I’m just so grateful to have this experience.” 

It’s been so cold for this game that sticks have broken more easily, helmets and other equipment have cracked and even pucks have exploded. 

“I shattered one on the post, I was so excited!” he says, again with a laugh. “I mean I have a terrible shot, I can barely raise the puck but I did smash one against the post. But they’re exploding non-stop, we’ve gone through so many pucks, it’s just the cold weather that’s doing it.” 

Troy Schaab, left, playing in World's Longest Hockey Game in Sherwood Park. Photo by Mandi Kostiuk Photography.

The most important stat of the game, of course, will be the money raised in support of cancer research.  In the six previous games hockey games and two baseball games, the Cure Cancer Foundation has raised $5.46 million. They are currently just shy of this year’s goal of $1.5 million, but with two days left to play and a boost from Edmonton’s CFL club that will be giving proceeds of their February 14th 50/50 draw to the foundation, the group will go on to break their own personal record of most money raised during one of their events. 

When asked if he would do it again, with everything the players have gone through this week in the blistering cold, Schaab said he was in. 

“It might be a little early to decide something like that but I’m sure I would. I’ve had such a great experience here. You sure put your body through a test while you’re here. But there’s just so many nice people and for the cause, yeah, I’m sure I would, for sure.” 

“I want to thank everybody from Central Alberta for all the donations and even the texts and phone calls throughout these last several days,” Schaab added. “It means a lot, thank you.” 

The game is scheduled to end after 252 hours (10 and a half days) of play on Monday February 15th. If you’d like to donate, watch a livestream, or even check the score, you can find all the information at worldlongestgame.ca.