All-star ice hockey charity match to take place in Leeds this weekend to honour the memory of ‘great’ man

Ice hockey stars from Leeds and beyond are set to come together this weekend for a charity game in memory of former Planet Ice manager Greg Marshall.

The Greg Marshall All Stars Memorial Game will return to Planet Ice Leeds on Sunday August 2 and raise money for Live Life Give Life and the Royal British Legion.

The match was first created by Greg’s close friends Lewis Collins and Jamie Rooney-West in 2024, just a few months after Greg died while waiting for a heart transplant.

Lewis: “We thought we should do a memorial game and we just ran with it.

“It’s grown every year to the point where people know the game and ask ‘what time is it running this year?’”

Lewis and Jamie said their friendship with Greg was like a group of “three idiots” who loved two things: banter and ice hockey.

Greg passed away in 2023 at 26 years old, and the pair remember him for his funny and kind nature.

Jamie said: “He was never not having a laugh or having fun. If you were to meet him you’d have never known what was going on.

“He was really smart, great, and caring as well.”

Lewis added: “The easiest way to describe him is if you didn't get along with him, you were the problem.

“He could probably be feeling the worst he has in a while, but yet still have a smile on his face and you wouldn't know.”

The Greg Marshall All Stars Memorial Game will feature Lewis and Jamie as rival team captains with all-star players including Kieran Brown, Jordan Buesa, and Owen Sobchak.

For Lewis and Jamie, it’s a “credit” to these players to come and join the charity match.

Jamie said: “None of these players have to do this. They're all giving up their free time.

“They're not getting paid for it so the fact that they're willing to come down, have a laugh and do something means a lot.”

The rival teams will face off at Planet Ice Leeds at 5.15pm with doors opening from 4.15pm.

Alongside a brilliant game of ice hockey, spectators at the tournament will have the opportunity to buy merchandise, cakes, and participate in ‘chuck-a-puck’, an iconic ice hockey fundraising game.

This is the third year of the Greg Marshall All Stars Memorial Game, which has so far raised over £24,000 for the Royal British Legion and Live Life Give Life, a figure that Lewis described as “mind-blowing”.

Now, alongside raising even more money for these causes, Greg’s friends want to highlight how organ donation can save lives.

Jamie said: “With organ donation, there’s someone who is clinging on for dear life and wanting a bit of normality to resume. Personally, I feel an obligation to help because if I don’t need it, then you can have it.”

Lewis added: “After seeing Greg go through it and seeing all these news articles where it's like one person's saved how ever many people, I think if you can save so many people, why not do it?”

Between 2024 and 2025, 4,583 patients received organ transplants.

All adults in England are considered to have agreed to become an organ donor when they die unless they have “opted out” of the system or are part of an excluded group.

As game day is soon approaches, team captains Lewis and Jamie have plenty to look forward to.

They’ll remember their much-loved friend Greg while hopefully scoring plenty of goals and raising thousands of pounds for charity.

But what’s the final thing they want to do before the big match?

Thank everyone who has made it possible.

Jamie said: “Thank you to everyone involved in planning it - the volunteers, the players, the spectators, and anyone who can’t come down but has still donated.

Lewis added: “The players and anyone who has skin in the game - it’s just a case of thanking everyone.

“Now just get there. What else have you got to do on a Sunday night?”

To buy tickets for this Sunday’s Greg Marshall All Stars Memorial Game, visit the Planet Ice website.