Every year, one of Kingston’s most spirited community traditions takes shape on the ice at Slush Puppie Place: the annual QMed Fights Cancer (QMFC) charity hockey game. What began as a gesture of support among medical students has evolved into a powerful fundraiser bringing together families, alumni, healthcare workers, and visitors from across the country.
Photo caption: Geordie Maguire
How the tradition began
In 2022, students in the Queen’s School of Medicine united around their classmate Geordie Maguire, who had recently been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Wanting to support him in a meaningful way, classmates drew inspiration from his lifelong passion for hockey and organized a charity game aimed at raising funds for brain cancer research.
What started as an act of friendship quickly grew into something much larger. Planning meetings became a source of connection.
As I progressed through treatment,” says Maguire, “our team meetings allowed me to stay connected with my QMed community and work on something I was proud of. I felt reinvigorated and cautiously optimistic, with a renewed sense of hope that I had lost after receiving my diagnosis.
The game became an annual event. And the initiative soon developed into a nationwide effort to support research and raise awareness.
Three years of growth and community impact
Since the first puck drop, QMFC has raised more than $300,000 for brain cancer research, with donors, players, and spectators joining in from communities across Canada.
The group’s impact earned national recognition in 2023 with the inaugural CFMS‑CPAMD Humanitarian Award, acknowledging the compassion and leadership demonstrated by everyone involved.
A friendly rivalry with real meaning
The 2025 QMFC game continued to build on this momentum, delivering one of the most exciting matchups yet. The rivalry between teams has deepened over the years, and 2025 was no exception, with the student team skating away with the trophy.
After the game, players and supporters came together for an evening concert and celebration—one of those Kingston moments where community, music, and shared purpose blend together in a way that feels uniquely local.
A new partnership and a bigger goal for 2026
Looking ahead, QMFC is aiming to surpass last year’s fundraising achievements with help from a major new partner: the Canadian Cancer Society. Through this partnership, every dollar raised at the event will be matched, doubling the support for research into innovative therapies designed to treat and improve the lives of patients facing brain cancer.
It’s an opportunity to magnify the impact of every contribution—big or small—and continue the legacy started by a group of students determined to make a difference.
As for Maguire, he is still undergoing treatment but he continues to pursue his goals. “I am grateful that after over a year of treatment I am now back at the Queen’s School of Medicine, working toward my lifelong dream of becoming a physician.”
Returning to the ice at Slush Puppie Place
This year’s game will once again take place at Slush Puppie Place, and the excitement is already building. The event has become a cornerstone of the winter season in Kingston: a celebration of perseverance, generosity, and the strength of community.
