On Christmas Day, one of Santa’s favourite helpers, Dan Bouwmeester, gave us a heads-up on a truly wonderful Christmas story involving a Zukiwsky family tradition that’s been going on for 37 years!!
Dale Henwood tracked down Dennis “Papa Zuk” Zukiwsky and put together this wonderful and timely tale that we thought is worth sharing over the holidays.
Here it goes:
The Zuk Boys’ 37th Annual Christmas Eve Classic
Thirty‑seven years ago, on a crisp Christmas Eve in the Morrisroe community of Red Deer, Dennis Zukiwsky bundled up his young sons, grabbed a couple of sticks, and headed to the neighbourhood outdoor rink. A few friends tagged along, the way kids always do, and without knowing it, they launched a tradition that would outgrow the boards, the neighbourhood, and eventually even the family itself.
Back then, it was simple: frozen toes, hand‑me‑down mitts, and a puck that always seemed to disappear into a snowbank. But in 1992, the Zuk Boys took the game indoors — partly for warmth, partly because the group had grown, and partly because Dennis’s sons had started inviting every friend they had ever played minor hockey with. The Christmas Eve game was becoming a thing.
From 1995 to 2005, the Zuk’s added a new wrinkle: a draft. Brothers, cousins, and friends crowded around a whiteboard, arguing over who had the best hands, who was washed up, and who was only being picked because their mom brought cookies. It was competitive, loud, and absolutely perfect.
After 2005, the tradition evolved again. The draft gave way to uniforms and referees, and the roster capped out at 25–26 players — the maximum number the Zukiwsky clan could wrangle without losing track of who was supposed to be on the ice. The game was still competitive, but it had taken on a new identity: part family reunion, part hockey carnival, part annual reminder that the Zuk’s took their fun seriously.
Line-ups:
Golden Bears: Ron van Someren, Chase Novelsky, Dennis Zukiwsky, Dion Zukiwsky, Dion Zukiwsky, Spencer Zukiwsky, Cooper Zukiwsky, Jonathan Zukiwsky, Kaila Zukiwsky, Jacob Zukiwsky, Tyler Zukiwsky, Hudson Zukiwsky.
Big Black Bears: Blain Ringham, Joe Metzeger, Ryan Merzeger, Jonas Metzger, Luc Brown, Nate Brown, Evan Hardy, Ian Hardy, Todd Hicks, Griffin Hicks, Beckett Hicks, Rob Warrender.
Then, about eight years ago, the floodgates opened.
The grandkids wanted in.
The in‑laws wanted in.
The parents of the grandkids’ friends wanted in.
And, naturally, the friends of the grandkids’ friends wanted in too.
What started as a structured game had officially morphed into joyful, multi‑generational chaos — the kind only a Canadian hockey family could love.
This year’s 37th edition was one for the books. The teams were set:
The Golden Bears — featuring 11 Zukiwskys, including four who had actually played for the University of Alberta’s storied program — versus The Big Black Bears, a motley crew of neighbours and friends, and brave souls who knew exactly what they were up against.
The age range alone was legendary: from 9 years old to 76.
Three generations on the ice.
One family.
One tradition.
Before the puck dropped, everyone lined up on their respective blue lines for a tradition within the tradition — singing O Canada. It was one of the most special moments of the night, with the kids absolutely belting it out, filling the rink with pride, and reminding everyone exactly why this game mattered.
The puck dropped, and the Golden Bears did what Golden Bears tend to do: they controlled the play, moved the puck like they’ had been doing it their whole lives (because they had), and — unsurprisingly — defeated the Big Black Bears with a mix of skill, experience, and Zukiwsky stubbornness.
But the score never mattered. What mattered were the moments:
A 9‑year‑old scoring on a 76‑year‑old who pretended not to mind.
A grandkid setting up a parent.
An uncle celebrating like he had won the national championship.
The goaltenders switched every five goals to avoid a possible Dave Reece.
A referee laughing so hard he forgot to blow the whistle.
When the final buzzer sounded, everyone headed to the dressing room for the most sacred post‑game ritual of all: sodas and Rice Krispies squares.
Helmets off, gloves drying, cheeks red from the cold and the laughter. Stories were told, memories were retold, and someone inevitably said, “Hard to believe this all started on that little outdoor rink in Morrisroe.”
But that is the magic of the Zuk Boys’ Christmas Eve Classic.
It is not just a game.
It is a legacy — one built on family, community, and the simple joy of showing up every year to play the sport that ties them all together.
The alumni uniforms (courtesy of Dan Bouwmeester) are now safely back in Edmonton and await the next “Bears family” game.
And next Christmas Eve, they will do it again.
Of course they will.
