The life of Ian Defty, whose life was tragically cut short earlier this year will be celebrated later this month in a 4-team tournament at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

Ian, who grew up as part of Durham Junior IHC and was a key member of the 1995/96 Durham City Wasps squad was a well known character in North East Ice Hockey and iced for a number of teams in his career including Newcastle, Hull, Whitley Bay, Guilford and Solway. A host of ex-team mates of Ian’s will battle it out for the inaugural Ian Defty Memorial Trophy with proceeds from the game placed in a trust for Ian’s young children Marcus and Niamh.

The teams will be led by former Wasps Shaun Johnson (Shuggy’s Shotguns ), Anthony Payne (Payney’s Pirates), Michael Tasker (Tasker’s Trashers) and Paddy O’Connor (Paddy’s Predators). Other players taking part include former Newcastle Vipers Scott Campbell, Mikko Koivunoro, Pasi Raitenen, Simon Leach, Karl Culley, Martin King, Anthony Johnson, Michael Bowman and Stephen Wallace. Former Durham Wasps players Ivor Bennett, Peter Herkes, Karl Walker, Andrew Carter and Malcolm Bell will also be icing on the night.

Doors open for the tournament at 6:15pm on Wednesday 27th August 2008, with the first game taking place at 7:00pm. A shirt-auction will take place after the games and an after party will take place at the Sports Café on Grainger Street in Newcastle’s City Centre for all players and fans. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £2.50 for under-12s, and are available now from four outlets:

1. Metro Radio Arena box office
2. Breakout ice hockey shop, Gilesgate Bank, Durham
3. Garden house Pub (opposite St. Leonards School, Durham
4. Stonebridge Pub, Langley Moor, Durham

Tickets are also available by post. Contact Gary Barr g.barr91@yahoo.co.uk
for details. All credit to Gaz for organising what’s set to be a great night in honour of ‘Reggie’.