Thorhild Challenges CFCW Critters to a 30th Anniversary Rematch

By Brandie Majeau
The CFCW Critters Hockey team is celebrating their 30th anniversary! Established in the fall of 1993, the
Critters played their first-ever game in Thorhild. When Alex Torguson, one of the twelve directors for the
Thorhild Ag Society, came across a program from the original game held all those years ago, he reached
out to Marty Stevens with 840 CFCW and challenged them to a friendly rematch. The Critters arrive on a
team bus and are comprised of CFCW staff and friends of the radio station. Communities create their
own hockey teams and organize localized fun around the main event. Throughout its thirty years, the
Critters Hockey team has helped local communities raise over 1.2 million dollars. 840 CFCW radio hosts
these games as charitable events and does not receive a fee for their participation. All funds raised by
the event stay in the hosting community.

On November 30, 2023, at 7 pm, the Thorhild Agricultural Society will be hosting the Critters and
creating an experience designed to draw in the entire community and surrounding areas. The goal is to
get as many people and businesses involved as possible. Torguson repeatedly commented on the game
as a community event. In preparation for the game, a coloring contest was held, asking students to
participate in creating a design that would be used on the 30th-anniversary hockey jerseys for the
community team. Thorhild County council chose the winner, and additional prizes were awarded to
winners in each grade. The Thorhild Ag Society has also reached out to past players and is hoping to
involve participants from the original match.

The event will include a pregame fundraiser supper by the Thorhild graduating class, and Sandra and
Roman Sopotyk. All proceeds from the supper will go towards their graduation ceremony. The Critters
game will be an event for the entire family! Interact with the Critters team as they create an atmosphere
of fun and entertainment. Meet a friend for a visit at the onsite beer gardens. A paper airplane toss will
be held during intermission. The airplane toss will encourage on-site paper airplanes to be made and
then thrown at prizes on the ice during intermission; those landing closest to the prize win them! This
exciting event will conclude with a fantastic fireworks display. Mark the calendars for November 30 and
support this 30th-anniversary occasion. The proceeds of the game and fundraising proceeds will be used
for renovations and updates to the Thorhild Arena. The entrance fee is $5, and admission for children
under is free. Fifty/Fifty tickets are also currently available online. The Thorhild Community Team has
already raised over $10,000 for this event.