The second annual Iceman Cup returned to Brantford’s TD Civic Centre on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
The charity hockey tournament was designed to shine a light on the life and legacy of the late Jimmy “The Iceman” MacNeil while raising funds in support of Diabetes Canada.
A longtime Zamboni driver with the City of Brantford, MacNeil was well known within the community and beyond. He was nominated as Zamboni Driver of the Year in 1999 and, in 2001, drove from Newfoundland to British Columbia on one of the machines ahead of the Salt Lake City Olympic Games.
“My dad was somebody that was very active in the community. He was a Zamboni driver at many local rinks, but he was really a kind of a staple at the Brantford Civic Centre. He worked there for many years, and he loved his job,” said Jake MacNeil, Jimmy’s youngest. “My grandfather, Alex MacNeil, was one of the first Zamboni repair guys in Canada, so my dad grew up being around the rinks all the time and it became his passion. He just enjoyed creating the best ice possible, whether it was for hockey teams, figure skaters or whatever might be going on at the Civic Centre. My dad took a lot of pride in what he did.”
Jake said that while the idea to host the tournament initially came to him after he spotted his dad’s initials on the bottom of a Zamboni during a hockey game following his death in October 2023. However, it was his father’s passion for giving back and putting community first that inspired the idea for the Iceman Cup.
“He always instilled that community-first passion and commitment in me and my family. When we unfortunately lost him, it hit a lot of us pretty hard,” he said. “It took us, and the community, by surprise, and so to help myself and my family cope in a different way, I thought it would be a good idea to put together a charity event in his honour and allow his friends and family to support a good cause.”
The inaugural Iceman Cup took place in 2024, bringing together a mix of hockey players like Brandon Montour, Calvin Crombie and Paul Szczechura from near and far for an exhibition game.
Now two years since the first, 2026 Iceman Cup once again featured a lineup of former and current pro, semi-pro, and local hockey players including Crombie, Jake Dotchin, Ellis and Emily Rickwood, Griffen Fox, Tommy Karmiris and Holden Wale, to name a few. John Parker-Jones and Jacob Buch stepped in as the coaches of this year’s teams.
When asked how it felt to welcome the players to the big event, Jake said he couldn’t thank them enough.
“I think it’s special for a lot of the guys and girls, just because they play so far away from home, so to have the opportunity to go on the ice and play in front of friends and family, and with buddies, I think means a lot to them,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough for taking time out of their busy lives to come and support us. They asked for nothing in return either, they’re just doing this out of the goodness of their heart, so it’s very much appreciated.”
He added that it was nice to see fans in the seats, and was thankful for everyone who helped them reach $8,168 of their $10,000 goal for Diabetes Canada.
“I know there’s a lot of people that wish they could have been here today and unfortunately couldn’t make it, but they found a way to contribute and give back so we’re thankful for that,” said Jake.
While Team John Parker-Jones held a 5-1 after the second period, Team Buch came back to win the Iceman Cup 9-7, scoring three goals in the final minutes to secure the win. Brantford Bulldogs alumni Calvin Crombie took home the title of player of the game.
“I thought after the second period it was going to be a runaway, but what a comeback there by Team Jacob Buch,” said Jake. “It just goes to show that you’ve got to play until the last whistle.”
Jake’s mother Lori MacNeil, who was instrumental in planning this year’s tournament, later thanked everyone who helped make the tournament possible.
“I’d like to thank all the volunteers that came out on their own accord to help with anything, big or small,” she said. “I’d also like to thank Diabetes Canada for their support in this manner, and to say thank you to all the fans.”
For those who couldn’t make it to the game and would still like to contribute, donations are still open and organizers are running a 50/50 draw until August 31.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
