BY TERRY BRIDGE, LISTOWEL BANNER / MINTO EXPRESS SPORTS

HARRISTON – Doug Davie’s decision was pretty easy this year.

When thinking about what cause to donate the proceeds to from the fourth annual Jeff Davie memorial co-ed three-pitch tournament, Doug, along with his wife Sharon, chose to give $5,000 to the annual Norwell Redmen high school hockey tournament.

Hockey, and specifically Palmerston’s high school hockey program, was a big part of their son Jeff’s life.

“We were talking one night about what we were going to do with the money this year, and I said Norwell was a big part of his life and the hockey there,” Doug said. “So we kind of picked a number that should cover their ice time and maybe the refs. Our thinking was that they’ll have money left over for sweaters or a trip, or they could do a couple more tournaments without panicking for money because I think they’re always needing money, there’s never enough money in the high school.”

The three-pitch tournament ran last weekend, Aug. 3-5, in Harriston and Palmerston.

Thirty teams participated in the 2012 event.

BJ Cochrane, one of the organizers, estimated they raised about $11,000, with the four-year total of money raised expected to eclipse $50,000.

Since the event began back in 2009 in memory of Harriston’s Jeff, who passed away from a brain tumour, it has been continually supported both financially and in participating teams.

“It’s kind of amazing,” Sharon said.

“I can’t understand what the run’s going to be in the end,” Doug said. “I mean so many of these guys now have families, it gets a little bit harder to commit to stuff like this, but so far we’ve got the commitment from these guys and I think they all have a good time. And there’s a lot of work for Brook (Cochrane) and these guys.”

The Cochrane family, as always, were a big part of organizing the tournament.

“It’s really kept us close and that’s a good part of the healing process,” Sharon said.

In the past the Davies have directed the money towards local sports groups, cancer charities and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but choosing the Norwell program this time around seemed like the right choice, not only because of Jeff’s past, but there were a large number of Redmen hockey alumni that played in the three-pitch tournament.

“It’s something that Jeff would have appreciated doing or supporting, and it’s local, and there are a lot of guys in this tournament, as you noticed, that are here playing, and I’m sure they’re all happy to see it go to Norwell where they played,” Doug said.

The Untouchables ended up winning the tournament on Sunday evening over Snatch in game two of the final.

Snatch took the first game, but the Untouchables were undefeated in the double-elimination format, so they had another chance and secured the title.

The Norwell high school hockey tournament runs annually in early December.