He Shoots, He Scores and Everyone Wins! By Dr. Peter W. Kujtan, B.Sc., M.D., Ph.D.

It has been a long year for die-hard Leaf and Ice-Dog fans. I finally have something in common with Habs fans. It's called depression. Weeks spent listening of how best to orchestrate an eighth place finish devoid of words like "Champion" and "Stanley cup" in the hopes to squeeze some more revenue out of the fans can do that to you. Thank goodness for April. Not only is it Cancer Awareness month, but it heralds the onset of a truly unique Canadian experience: "The Hockey Tournament!" Come April, teams of all ages, all denominations, men and women travel far and near to participate in this phenomenon. For mature hockey players, it is the culmination of a season spent attempting to turn back the clock, and ward off the aging genies that constantly tug away at our bodies.

The 25th Annual Docs on Ice Charity Hockey Tournament just completed its rounds in Hamilton over the last number of days. Doctors from all parts of Ontario, hang the "gone skating" sign on the door, lace up the skates and hit the road to push the buffalo chip around the pond. Prescription pads and stethoscopes are traded for shoulder pads and sticks to practice what we preach. Forty-five teams and over seven hundred doctors played in the three-day event. Not one but two local teams of graying warriors headed off to Steel Town this year to defend their respective divisional titles. Not a good weekend to fall ill, I suppose. Mississauga was on the doc-hockey radar screen, as teams from all over the province set their gun-sights on upsetting the medics from Mississauga. From the Trillium south, came Dr. Dennis Izukawa's and Dr.Don Head's Mississauga Titans. And from the Valley, re-emerged my own Mississauga Tomahawks with Dr's. Dave Palmer and Grant Moore leading the charge. Our back-up goalie Mr. Johnny Bower, brought along his Stanley Cup Ringer, which at one time spurred the leafs to victory, but now has ushered the Tomahawks to four winning seasons. To commemorate the event, Mr. Bower had his ring "re-fitted" by a Mack Truck in a parking lot, and it now proudly resides around his neck, with a new lace donated by Bert's Sport Chalet.

The true winner of this tournament was "The Mark Preece Family House", a place away from home for families of patients with life threatening illness. It held a special meaning for me personally. Dr. Mark Preece was a classmate and good friend of mine. He exemplified the concept of "healer" and was a role model for many of his peers. He selflessly always gave to his patients, but life was cut short by melanoma at the tender age of 38. I was overjoyed to find that Marks legacy carries on. Walter Gretzky, NHL- great Harry Howell and even "Teenage Head" entertained and lent their support. Hockey Hall of Fame legend Darryl Sittler regaled the audience with wonderful memories and anecdotes. Tournament chairman, Dr. Walter Owsianik stated that over $40,000.00 was raised towards this cause. The folks at Bioped, Sanofi-Aventis, The OMA, Medical Mart, Abbott and Pfizer are owed a degree of thanks for their support.

The remodeled Stanley Cup Ring performed magnificently by casting a curse on the opposition that Friday the 13th. Strange that it now resembles a Red Kelly pyramid more than a ring. The Valley Tomahawks proved triumphant for the fourth year in a row. It may be the only Mississauga Dynasty that we have for now!

Golf Leafs Golf!