Hockey Helps the Homeless Hockey Helps the Homeless is a volunteer - driven charitable organization that hosts hockey tournaments in various cities across Canada , with proceeds being donated towards various charities . The organization also works with numerous outreach organizations , with the goal education , fundraising and partnering . Former NHL legend Mike Gartner is the honorary chairman . History . The organization was established in 1996 , and was called Hockey for the Homeless . The idea was conceived by a group of Toronto businessmen who decided to turn an annual industry hockey tournament into a charitable event . Throughout the years , the tournament has received media exposure from numerous outlets , including Hockey Night in Canada . On September 19 , 2011 , the organization changed its named from Hockey for the Homeless to Hockey Helps the Homeless . The reason for the name change was to ensure clarity in its purpose . With the use of hockey , the charity aims to bring awareness to and support for the homeless problem throughout Canada . To date , Hockey Helps the Homeless has raised over $ 3 . 5 million in donations for homeless agencies , shelters and transition initiatives throughout numerous Canadian cities . Hockey Helps the Homeless Cup . During the 2011 - 12 season , a program was conceived that paired the regular season of high school aged hockey players ( in a participating division or league ) with an online fundraising event . Teams from a division or league that get involved wear a Hockey Helps the Homeless patch on their jerseys . Points are determined through the outcome of games , and the money that each team raises online is also factored in the points . At season ’ s end , the two teams with the highest points play a neutral site game for the honor of winning the Hockey Helps the Homeless Cup . Tournament structure . The organization hosts fantasy tournaments , in which registered participants have at least two NHL alumni ( men ’ s ) or CWHL alumni ( women ’ s ) on their teams . Events are held during the months of November to February . Cities have included Toronto , Montreal , Vancouver , Calgary , Niagara Region and Ottawa . In November 2011 , Hockey Helps the Homeless featured its first women ' s hockey tournament . The event was hosted in the Greater Toronto Area at the Magna Centre in Newmarket , Ontario . Said tournament involved numerous players from the Burlington Barracudas of the CWHL . Another women ’ s tournament was hosted in Ottawa in April 2012 and featured players from the Montreal Stars and the McGill Martlets . A typical event involves the single - day hockey tournament , reception dinner and silent auction . Registered players pay a fee to participate , and with corporate sponsorship , funds raised help support charities for the homeless in the host city . Host cities . Ottawa . Bell Sensplex in Kanata , Ontario hosted the second annual tournament in April 2011 . The 2011 edition featured the first women ’ s tournament in Ottawa . Players such as Julie Chu , Lisa - Marie Breton , Alyssa Cecere , Marie - Philip Poulin , Gillian Ferrari , Caroline Ouellette and Catherine Ward participated . McGill Martlets alumni Ann - Sophie Bettez and Alyssa Cecere also played in the event . In one of the tournament contests , Catherine Ward was the goaltender . The women ' s tournament was won by the Ottawa Mission . Ottawa Senators alumni Laurie Boschman and Brad Marsh participated in the men ' s tournament , along with Rick Smith , a member of the Boston Bruins 1972 Stanley Cup team . Former Toronto Maple Leafs alumni Dan Daoust , Tom Fergus and Mark Osborne also participated . Toronto . On November 18 , 2011 , Vancouver Winter Games participant Anniina Rajahuhta was one of several Burlington Barracudas players ( including Christina Kessler , Shannon Moulson , Ashley Stephenson , Jana Harrigan , Amanda Shaw , Samantha Shirley , Amanda Parkins , and Lindsay Vine ) who competed in the first ever Hockey Helps The Homeless Women ' s Tournament . Said tournament was held at the Magna Centre in Newmarket , Ontario . Vancouver . UBC Thunderbird Arena hosted the third annual tournament on Friday , November 25 , 2011 . Vancouver Canucks alumni including Greg Adams , Garth Butcher , Mark Lofthouse , Gary Nylund , Moe Lemay and Larry Melnyk participated . In Vancouver , the tournament raised funds for RainCity Housing and Support Society , along with Lookout Society . Since its inception , the Vancouver tournament has raised $ 165 , 000 . David Fine is a founding committee member of the Vancouver branch . Board of Directors . For the 2011 - 12 season , the Board of Directors were as follows :