A local organization that has spent the past 40 years celebrating the great Canadian game and giving back to the community, is now being permanently honoured on the walls of Stevens’ Your Independent Grocer in Bracebridge.
Forty years ago this March the Rink Rats Hockey Club established the Lovable Losers hockey tournament in Bracebridge. However, during those four decades, they’ve grown to be much more than simply another local hockey club. The Rink Rats have also helped maintain several outdoor skating rinks in Muskoka while raising funds to help purchase hockey sledges for aspiring young athletes, including Gravenhurst’s Graeme Murray, who went on to win multiple Paralympic medals.
Earlier this month the Rink Rats Hockey Club officially hung two plaques up at the YIG celebrating their achievements over the years alongside the 2015 Accessibility Award they were presented from the Town of Bracebridge.
The accessibility award banner had formerly hung in the old Bracebridge Arena but needed a new home when the arena was torn down in 2024.
Former Your Independent Grocer owner Guy Gagnon, who passed away in 2022, was a member of the Rick Rats, and current owner of the grocery store Tyler Stevens decided to step forward and offer to host the commemorative plaques in his store.
Several members of the Rink Rats were on hand for the ceremony, as well as former recipients of the hockey sledges.
The group took a moment to thank all of those in attendance as well as all of those who have helped them help others during their decades of service to the community.
While the Rink Rats stepped back from organizing the Lovable Losers tournament in 2017 that doesn’t mean they’ve stepped back from competing.
You can catch them during the 40th annual Lovable Losers hockey tournament which runs March 7, 8, and 9 2025 at the Muskoka Lumber Community Center.
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Great to see this recognition of The Rink Rats on display. They have also made a huge positive impact on many Bracebridge Charities with their donations over the past 40 years.