Coach4Food(Submitted) A trio of teams have given the Coach4Food Program a major boost rocketing it above the 20-ton mark in founder Tom Hedican‘s final year of practices.

The Gateway Electric Bantams, sponsored by Bernard Rochefort Ltd., added nearly 6 tons to the total, collecting 5,641 pounds.

Adding to that, the Novice Ice Boltz Team Brideau and Leboeuf, sponsored by Peter Gregory, brought in 3,278 pounds while the Bantam AA Ice Boltz, sponsored by Optimum Insurance Co., collected 1,189 pounds.

The Midget BB Ice Boltz also collected for the Callander Food Bank, adding another 1,000 pounds.

That pushed this year’s total to 42,043 pounds of food for North Bay and area Food Banks.

This year, the top collecting girls and boys team will be honored before a North Bay Battalion game and receive a practice from the Battalion coaching staff. The third place team will also receive a practice from the Battalion.

 Hedican, a professional goaltending consultant, founded Coach4Food in 2005, inspired by rock legend Bruce Springsteen and his work with food banks around the world. This will be his final year of running Coach4Food practices.

 Coach4Food has been endorsed by Springsteen and NHL coaches Ken Hitchcock and North Bay’s Mike Yeo. Next summer Yeo will meet with local coaches who participate in this year’s program.

Practices conclude today.