Brent Saik laughs when asked how 40 players in the worldB次元官网网址檚 longest hockey game are handling the bitter cold on an outdoor rink.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been horrible,B次元官网网址� the eventB次元官网网址檚 founder told The Canadian Press this week as an extreme cold warning continued across Alberta. B次元官网网址淵ou can always try to dress for cold.

B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 expect to dress for cold B次元官网网址� for the entire time.B次元官网网址�

Pucks shatter as players pass them along the boards. Skate blades are breaking in half. Pieces of masks are falling off as glue lets go and goalie pads are cracking in the cold.

Temperatures have dropped to between -40 C and -55 C with the wind chill at times this week and, although itB次元官网网址檚 supposed to warm up slightly on the weekend, the cold snap isnB次元官网网址檛 expected to lift until Monday.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 the same day the game meant to raise $1.5 million to fund cancer research at the University of Alberta is to hit its 252-hour goal around 6 a.m. and break its own Guinness World Record.

Saik, an eye doctor, started the game in 2003 after losing his father to cancer and decided to keep it going after his wife also died from the disease.

This yearB次元官网网址檚 game B次元官网网址� the seventh edition B次元官网网址� has already been one for the record books.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been out of this world,B次元官网网址� goalie Andrew Buchanan, a firefighter and paramedic in Strathcona County just east of Edmonton, where the game is being played, said Thursday.

There are challenges on the ice, but it also isnB次元官网网址檛 easy to warm up off the ice. Players are living in trailers set up on SaikB次元官网网址檚 rural property in an B次元官网网址淣HL-style bubbleB次元官网网址� after receiving a special exemption from the province to play during COVID-19 restrictions.

Buchanan said furnaces in the trailers canB次元官网网址檛 keep up with the cold.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e out on the ice playing for six, eight, 10 hours at a time and then you just want to get some warm sleep,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not the case when itB次元官网网址檚 -54 C with the wind chill.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never seen anything like it before.B次元官网网址�

Buchanan, who dresses in four base layers, battery-powered socks, two pairs of gloves with handwarmers and a full balaclava, said the game has been full of ups and downs.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a constant emotional roller-coaster,B次元官网网址� he said, noting heB次元官网网址檚 dedicated his play to all first responders. B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 so amazing, as soon as youB次元官网网址檙e down, you have another person picking you right back up.

B次元官网网址淓very player brings pictures of how cancer has affected us and we line up those people in the dressing room, so you just look around and see who youB次元官网网址檙e playing for.B次元官网网址�

Fans arenB次元官网网址檛 allowed to watch in person this year, but they can drive past the rink to honk or wave.

Buchanan said those visits have been great motivation when itB次元官网网址檚 cold and the energy is waning.

B次元官网网址淎ll of a sudden a fan will pull up, put up a picture of their loved one who is either battling cancer or has unfortunately passed away from cancer,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t just motivates you and picks the energy up again and you keep going.B次元官网网址�

Saik agreed thereB次元官网网址檚 been lots of motivation to keep playing.

B次元官网网址淭his has been by far the hardest game that IB次元官网网址檝e ever done,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 working and weB次元官网网址檙e going to raise the money thatB次元官网网址檚 needed, so weB次元官网网址檙e in good shape.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� By Colette Derworiz in Edmonton.

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