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Rimbey Atoms AA help out Sylvan Lake player

The Rimbey Atom AA hockey team likes to win.
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Helping out: Rimbey AA Atoms captain Hayden Motorylo stands with Sylvan Lake AA Atoms assistant captain Talon Brigley holding a sign in honor of Sylvan Lake Atoms captain Michael Arthur who has been diagnosed with leukemia. The Rimbey team donated $500 to the young hockey player to help with expenses. The Rimbey team also wore orange skate laces and put orange tape on their hockey sticks which they raised in salute to Arthur who was in the stands. Sylvan Lake defeated Rimbey 4-2 after scoring the final goal when Rimbey pulled their goalie.

The Rimbey Atom AA hockey team likes to win.

The team, made up of 10 and 11-year-old players, are enthusiastic young athletes who do their best to see the scoreboard light up in their favour.

But, when the Atoms heard that Michael Arthur, the captain of an opposing team was diagnosed with leukemia, winning took a back seat to helping out in whatever way they could.

Team members agreed that $500 raised from their bottle drive should go towards expenses the family would incur during Michael’s treatment.

And during last Sunday’s game against Sylvan Lake played on home ice, Rimbey players wrapped their sticks with orange tape and tied their skates with orange laces. The parents and friends in the fans were encouraged to wear orange as well to show their support.

Players from both teams, when they learned Michael was in the stands, skated by him raising their sticks in a unified salute.

“It was awesome,” said Rimbey Atom coach Chad Beagle. “(Some people) had tears in their eyes.”

The Sylvan Lake hockey player has his first round of chemotherapy and will remain in the Calgary Children's Hospital for the next six months. His parents and older brother, Steven will be with him.

Help to offset costs during this time can be made through donations to ATB Trust account # 926-00376516400.

Please see the FIGHT LIKE MIKE Facebook page for information and notification of silent auctions.

Cheques can be made out to the Michael Arthur Trust Account.