EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally said Saik and Barack Obama were the only non-NHL players to receive a silver stick. Later on Tuesday night, the silver stick manufacturer clarified that other NHL employees, including doctors and scouts, had also received such sticks. The manufacturer also said some other people may have received a stick but it is a rare gift.
Being one of 40 players to play in a hockey game that lasted a whopping 251 hours and nine minutes, Strathcona County’s Brent Saik is already in a rather exclusive club. And less than 24 hours after the World’s Longest Hockey Game wrapped up east of Edmonton, Saik joined another exclusive club: he joins former U.S. president Barack Obama as some of just a few non-National Hockey League (NHL) players and employees to be given a silver stick.
Saik was given the commemorative stick ahead of the Edmonton Oilers game against the Boston Bruins at Rogers Place on Tuesday night.
The silver stick, which players say feels like it weighs about 10 kilograms, is normally awarded to NHL players by their hockey teams when they reach a significant milestone like 1,000 games played in the league. Before players from the World’s Longest Hockey Game and the Edmonton Oilers gave Saik his memento, Barack Obama was among the few non-NHL players to be given the commemorative stick when the Los Angeles Kings visited the White House three years ago, according to the stick’s manufacturer.
“When the idea of the silver stick was presented to us, all the guys from the World’s Longest Hockey Game were on board immediately,” said Global Edmonton sports anchor Kevin Karius, who also played with Saik at the epic hockey game earlier this week. “We all know how much Brent deserves something like this for all he’s done.”
View photos of Saik’s silver stick in the gallery below:
Tuesday wasn’t the first time members of the Oilers showed their support for Saik this month. A number of players, including Connor McDavid, Darnell Nurse and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins dropped by Saik’s private rink east of Edmonton to cheer him on. Head coach Todd McLellan also paid a visit, as did former Oiler Craig Simpson.
Watch below: Some videos of Edmonton Oilers expressing their support for the World’s Longest Hockey game in February 2018.
READ MORE: World’s Longest Hockey Game east of Edmonton sets unofficial record at 251 hours
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Saik’s 10-day hockey game this month unofficially set a new record for longest hockey game played but more importantly, raised money for the Alberta Cancer Foundation to support the Terry Fox Research Institute’s PROFYLE project. As of Tuesday evening, the hockey game had generated $922,501.39 in donations and several days after the game started, an anonymous donor came forward to say they were so moved by Saik and his fellow players’ efforts, they wanted to match all individual donations to the game.
Among the words inscribed on Saik’s silver stick are all the years in which he’s played in a hockey game attempting to set a new record for the world’s longest match. In honour of Saik’s father who also lost a battle with cancer, the stick also says, “Good game son.” According to Karius, the phrase is what Saik heard from his father every time he had finished playing a baseball game growing up.
READ MORE: The 2018 edition of the World’s Longest Hockey Game at Saiker’s Acres
The first time Saik organized the World’s Longest Hockey Game was in 2003. Before this year’s event, the event had raised more than $3.4 million for cancer charities.
Watch below: Some videos from Global News’ coverage of the 2018 edition of the World’s Longest Hockey Game.
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World’s Longest Hockey Game 2018 is over! -
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Kevin Karius recaps World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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World’s Longest Hockey Game sets unofficial record at 251 hours -
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Players at World’s Longest Hockey Game have new record in sight -
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World’s Longest Hockey Game reaches final day -
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Behind the scenes at the World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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By the numbers: World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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Meet the oldest player taking part in the World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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Checking in with Kevin Karius on Day 6 of the World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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World’s Longest Hockey Game sees players overcome physical and emotional challenges -
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A look back at the history of the World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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Blisters, aches, fatigue sets in for players at World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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Death in organizer’s family leaves ‘hole’ at World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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Blowing snow creating challenges for World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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A look at the cancer program being supported by the World’s Longest Hockey Game -
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Guinness World Records sets new criteria for World’s Longest Hockey Game east of Edmonton -
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Cold start to the World’s Longest Hockey Game east of Edmonton
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