Ennismore Hockey Community Comes Together for 16-Year-Old Goalie Mattais Wojtowicz

By Scott Arnold

A familiar face between the pipes for the Ennismore Eagles is facing a difficult road ahead, but his teammates, hockey association and wider community are making sure 16-year-old Mattais Wojtowicz and his family don't have to face it alone.

Mattais Wojtowicz, a longtime Ennismore Eagles goalie, will be the focus of this year's Hockey Weekend in Ennismore, with all proceeds going to support him and his family. (Photo courtesy of Ennismore Minor Hockey Association)

Mattais, a St. Peter's Secondary School student and longtime member of the Ennismore Minor Hockey Association (EMHA), has been diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a form of cancer.

He is currently recovering from abdominal surgery to remove a mass and is expected to begin a four-month course of chemotherapy at SickKids Hospital within the next one to two weeks, according to an update shared by his mother, Heidi.

With a challenging period ahead for Mattais and his family, the Ennismore hockey community is stepping up to help.

The EMHA has made the decision to dedicate this year's Hockey Weekend in Ennismore, running November 5th to 8th, entirely to supporting Mattais and his family. All proceeds raised throughout the four-day event will go toward helping with everyday expenses, including meals, travel, fuel and other costs, allowing the family to focus on Mattais and his treatment.

For EMHA, the decision represents a significant shift from the original purpose of the annual event.

"For many years, Hockey Weekend in Ennismore has been a special tradition for our association and community," said EMHA president Paula Joore. "It has always been about more than just the game of hockey. It's a weekend where we come together to celebrate our Eagles and raise funds to help our association keep the cost of hockey as affordable as possible for local families."

That changed when the association learned of Mattais's diagnosis.

"This year we shifted gears as soon as we found out Mattais was diagnosed with cancer. We made an executive decision to make this Hockey weekend about Mattais and his family," Joore explained.

Mattais is a goalie with the Ennismore Eagles U18B1 team and has played hockey in Ennismore for many years. His teammates and their families have been among those leading the efforts to make this year's weekend special.

Erin Cavanagh, team manager for the U18B1 team, says the entire group is rallying behind their teammate.

"The WHOLE TEAM, players and parents are rallying behind him," Cavanagh shared. "Additionally, Mattais has played with many players from U18B2 and at Hockey Weekend in Ennismore, all players from U18B1 and U18B2 are volunteering to make the weekend a huge success!"

The support has extended well beyond the teams themselves.

Joore says local businesses and community members have already been donating items, while team managers have been reaching out to find ways to contribute. She also praised the work being done by the association's executive and the staff of the Glen Windrem U18B team to organize the weekend.

"The outpouring of love and support we have already seen has been truly overwhelming," Joore said. "It really shows just how much love and support there is for this young Eagle and his family."

Hockey Weekend in Ennismore: November 5th to 8th

This year's Hockey Weekend in Ennismore will feature four days of hockey, special activities and fundraising opportunities, with all proceeds going to Mattais and his family.

Thursday, November 5th, is opening night, running from 5pm to 9:15pm. Raffle prize baskets and a 50/50 draw will be available throughout the weekend, with Ennismore U13 White taking on the Millbrook Stars Green at 7:30pm.

Friday, November 6th, is Retro Night. Activities include a custom-fit mouthguard clinic from 5:30pm to 8pm, Jesse's Lasagna Supper and a silent auction featuring retro jerseys. The evening also features Ennismore U11B against Lakefield at 6pm, U15B1 against Millbrook at 7:30pm and the EMHA Alumni Game at 9:15pm.

Saturday, November 7th, begins with U7 exhibition games at 9am, followed by a peameal-on-a-bun barbecue from 9:30am to 11:30am, or while supplies last. The day's activities also include a Chuck-A-Puck event and a full schedule of hockey, with the final game featuring Ennismore U21 against the Tweed Hawks at 9:15pm.

Sunday, November 8th, features another full day of hockey, beginning with games at 9am. Among the matchups is Ennismore U16B against the Frontenac Flyers at 11:30am. The final scheduled game is Ennismore U18 LL White against U18 LL Green at 5:30pm, which is also when the raffle and Hockey Weekend in Ennismore 50/50 draws take place.

A full breakdown of the weekend is available on the Ennismore Eagles website at Schedule of Events.

For anyone unable to attend the weekend but still wishing to help, a GoFundMe campaign has also been established to support Mattais and his family.

Donations can be made online through their GoFundMe page.

EMHA will also have information available throughout the weekend for those wishing to make a direct donation to the family.

While the original purpose of Hockey Weekend in Ennismore has always been to bring the association together and help make hockey more affordable for local families, this year's event has taken on a different meaning.

For Mattais's teammates, it is an opportunity to stand behind someone they've shared the ice with for years. For the association and the wider community, it is a chance to help a young person and his family during an incredibly difficult time.

As Joore put it, the support already shown has been overwhelming, and she couldn't be prouder of the people working to make this year's event special.

The message from the Ennismore Eagles is simple: Mattais and his family have a community behind them.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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