Katie Robinson loved hockey. She loved people. She loved life.
But the Sault Ste. Marie resident was only 20 years young when her life was tragically taken in a horrific traffic crash in June 2021.
Despite her passing, her legacy continues to inspire those who knew her and those who carry on her work.
This weekend, her memory lives on in the 4th Annual Katie Robinson Memorial Showcase which takes place at three venues around the Sault Ste. Marie area including the Big Bear Arena, Taffy Abel Arena and Pullar Arena.
The showcase is a celebration of girls’ hockey in Michigan by welcoming players and families for a weekend filled with fun both on and off the ice. This event honors and remembers the spirit and legacy of Katie, providing an opportunity for girls to participate in a friendly and exciting tournament.
Families are invited to enjoy a variety of activities for all ages. Proceeds from the event support the Katie Robinson Memorial Scholarship and the Diane Peppler Resource Center, helping to strengthen the community while sharing the love of the game.
"We have girls coming from all over Michigan and a few from Ontario this year, 20 youth and two college teams. We started with four teams and are now at 20 youth teams. We have raised almost $26,000 in the last three years for the DPRC and the scholarship in Katie's name," said Katie's mother, Nancy.
There is a lot going on over the three days.
"Games will be going on Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 1 p.m. Abby Roque donated a game-used stick and her teammates all signed it for me. That will be our main raffle prize. We may have a couple others but I'm waiting on confirmation still. There is no fee to come to any of the games. We have the ACHA D1 LSSU Lady Lakers and Aquinas College Saints playing Friday night and we are asking that everyone can bring a donation for the Diane Peppler Women's Resource Center as that was Katie's charity of choice. We will have the traditional Chuck-A-Puck and other things happening during the game. I believe the LSSU Robotic department will have their robot there to toss things into the stands for fun. This game will begin at 7:30 pm but we have an all-Showcase participant photo at center ice at 7:05 p.m. This is impressive with about 320 young women in the photo. We also have Showcase clothing that will be available all weekend long," Nancy explained.
The schedule for all three days can be found here.
"There is not a champion or winner. This is a showcase where the girls get to come play the game they love and not worry about if they make it to the next round. Our main goal for this is to have these girls make some new friends and have a great stress-free weekend. We have a party Saturday night that all participants, families and volunteers can attend for free. The dinner at this event is sponsored by The Little Gift Shop and the Sault Ste. Marie Lion's Club. It is held at Lake State at the Norris Center. The girls get to eat pizza/subs from Little Caesars and Jimmy John's. They have the use of the swimming pool, ice rink, rock climbing wall, play carnival games and hang out with the Lady Lakers as well as several student-run clubs from the university," Nancy concluded.
Katie’s motto was simple: “Girl, we gotta talk.” Through this event, her message of empowerment and support will ensure her legacy will continue to inspire and protect future generations. You can read her passionate story here.
