World's longest hockey game is currently happening in Edmonton despite -47°C temperatures

The world's longest hockey game is currently happening right now just outside Edmonton, Alberta despite -47°C temperatures and some serious health concerns for all those involved.

The game, created as a fun and noteworthy way to raise money for cancer research, began on Thursday, February 4th and will run for ten days until Saturday, February 14th. More than 40 players will play in the game which totals more than 252 hours. So far the game has raised over half a million for cancer research and the scoreboard reads 880-829 for Team Red over Team White.

I mean... just look at what these guys are putting up with just to raise money for a good cause:

More from the World's Longest Hockey Game: 

With 1 in 4 Albertans being diagnosed with cancer and 1 in 2 passing away from their diagnosis, it seems that everyone has a cancer story. Brent Saik, owner of Alberta Sports Vision Institute and organizer of the World’s Longest Games, is no different.

Brent’s relationship with the Cross Cancer Institute began in 1994 when he lost his father, Terry Saik, to cancer. One of Terry’s wishes was that Brent would carry on the Saik legacy of community support and continue raising funds for the Cross Cancer Institute. Brent made good on his promise and, in 1996, he began the annual Terry Saik Memorial Golf Tournament which raised nearly $35,000. But he didn’t stop there. He wanted to do something more, something bigger.

So, in 2003, Brent held the inaugural World’s Longest Hockey Game, which included 40 players playing 80 consecutive hours. This event raised $150,000 in support of a gene-analyzer which is now used in pediatric cancer research at the Cross Cancer Institute. But that still wasn’t enough for Brent. He wanted to do more. And, after losing his wife Susan to cancer shortly after the first World’s Longest Hockey Game, he knew what he had to.

With help from countless volunteers, donors, players and committee members, Brent has now organized six World’s Longest Hockey Games and two World’s Longest Baseball Game, which have raised over $5.47 million for the Cross Cancer Institute in support of leading edge equipment and life-saving research.

---

This year's event though has been particularly tough given the sub-arctic temperatures. In fact... it's -33°C in Antartica right now... and -47°C in Edmonton. These guys are literally playing hockey outdoors when it's colder than Antartica.

 Some photos:

To learn more about The World's Longest Game, click below: