Athletes aged 70 + take the ice in Lachute

Régine Rhéaume, who is president of the volunteer auxiliaries group at the Argenteuil hospital, receives $4,500 from foundation volunteers Hubert Pilon (left) and Patrick Laroche (right)  Pilon, 76, plays with the Saint-Eustache Patriots and is on the ice twice a week. Submitted photo 

Some very active seniors helped to raise funds for the Argenteuil hospital last month. 

Players aged 70 and above laced up their skates and took to the ice at the Kevin-Lowe/Pierre-Pagé arena in Lachute.

The two teams were the Patriotes from Saint-Eustache and the Old Boys of Ottawa-Gatineau.

A total of $4,500 was raised during the event and organizers said it was a big success.
Hubert Pilon, who is an active volunteer in Lachute, said the money will go towards renovations to the Argenteuil hospital's family visiting room, which welcomes families of patients.

"There will be a fridge and a stove, also the Internet and some couches so people can relax for a few hours," he said.
"With this game we can pay for about half."
Pilon, who is 76, played forward on the Saint-Eustache team.

He said 500 tickets were sold at $5 each and the event also welcomed two local politicians: Quebec's minister for seniors' affairs Marguerite Blais and Argenteuil MNA David Whissell both delivered $1,000 contributions on behalf of the province.

Pilon said that each team had 15 players and the game lasted an hour and a half.
"Having seniors' games is starting to be more popular, because in the past you would not have found enough people who were healthy enough. Now there are more and more, " he said. 

When asked if playing hockey was difficult at his age, Pilon said it wasn't too difficult - in fact, Pilon said the Saint-Eustache team practices twice a week.
 "As for myself, I have been playing hockey for 70 years," he added.