Hockey: Honouring their memories

Memorial matches in honour of two local hockey women that lost their battle with cancer will headline round 15 of the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association this Saturday.

Picture by Laurie Benson: Danny and Hayden Burling and Dana York watch Danny’s daughter Evie ahead of the Jo Burling and Kelly York memorial matches

Spencer Park player Jo Burling passed away from breast cancer in 2000, while fellow Spencer Park player Kelly York lost her battle with the disease in 2008.

Burling will be remembered with the 12th annual Jo Burling Memorial Match in A-grade, played between Spencer Park and North Albany.

In the B-grade, it will be the first memorial match for York, with game pitting Spencer Park 1 and Spencer Park 2 against each other.

LGSHA president Shauna Dale said the day was huge, not only for Spencer Park but also the hockey association.

“Jo was a really strong member of our association, she was a well known and popular player,” she said.

“For the first time the Kelly York shield will be awarded in the B-grade.

It is a really big event and we are hoping for a big turnout to honour the memories of both players.”

The LGSHA will raise funds on the day to support breast cancer research.

“We want to honour these two women and it is a day of remembrance,” Dale said.

She said the rivalry between Spencer Park and North Albany was strong when Burling was playing and the decision to use this match as a memorial game was 8fitting.

“Spencer Park and North Albany had a rivalry when Jo was playing so that’s where this game came from,” she said.

“Regardless of how their season has gone, both sides really get up for this game, it is fierce and always tight.”

Last year the two sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in front of a big crowd.

Burling’s two sons Danny and Hayden will pull on the Spencer Park colours in their men’s A-grade game earlier in the day.

Dana York, Kelly’s daughter, will play for Spencer Park in the memorial A-grade match.

The Kelly York match will start at 12.45pm before a 3.45pm start time in the Jo Burling game.

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