HUNDREDS of former ice hockey players and fans are expected to take part in a special charity weekend.

A golf day will be held at the Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club, Durham City, to mark 100 years of the sport being played in Britain.

It is on Saturday, August 1 and will be preceded by a practice day on the Friday and followed on the Saturday night by a gala dinner at the hotel.

The event is being organised by former Durham Wasps goalkeeper Frank Killen, of Durham City, and another former player, Scott Plews, of Fife in Scotland.

Proceeds go to Macmillan Cancer Support and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Mr Killen said Durham was chosen because of its past links to the sport and its location in the middle of Britain.

“It is probably unique that we are trying to get three or four hundred ice hockey players together in a city that doesn’t have an ice rink any more,’’ said Mr Killen, who still lives in the city .

“Durham is still a hotbed of ice hockey even though there are no games played here now and we will probably get a good response.”

Players past and present from teams across the country, and some players from Canada are expected.

Mr Killen said the gala dinner could attract as many as 450 people as many fans were interested in attending

“We are hopefully that quite a few of the Durham, Whitley Bay, Sunderland and Billingham fans will read anout it and say “wow, it is a great opportunity to see some of the famous from the 80s and 90s.”

Visit the website www.100yearsukhockey.com for details and booking.