Raffi’s Rebels Tournament returns April 25

April 9, 2026 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The countdown is on for the Raffaele Scerbo Annual Memorial Tournament on April 25, and although registration is full, there are still many ways the community can come together to support the tournament and a great cause.

The tournament is held each year in memory of Bolton teen Raffaele (Raffi) Scerbo, who passed just eight days before his 15th birthday after a more than decade-long battle with glioma, a form of spinal cancer.

Since 2022, his family and friends have organized an annual hockey tournament, Raffi’s Rebels, in memory of Scerbo, which has since raised over $40,000 to Sick Kids for brain cancer research.

His family and friends’ mission is to honour Scerbo by raising awareness and funds for brain tumour research, and by doing so, incorporating “two of the activities he enjoyed, most playing hockey and spending time with family and friends.”

Even for those who aren’t the biggest hockey fans, the entire community is encouraged to come out and support the tournament each year.

This year, there’s no shortage of food and drink to enjoy while you watch the games; the banquet room and an all-day cafe will be serving food, and there is also a pub night with cold beer and drinks from 2 to 11 p.m.

The tournament will also include games, merchandise for sale, vendors, and raffle draws, for which they are still seeking prizes. If an individual or business is interested in contributing a product, service, gift card, or experience, the tournament is still accepting donations until April 22.

The tournament reached capacity in team registration quite early, which Jodi Scerbo says is typical for their tournament.

This year, they added a brand-new division for those 30-plus, in addition to the teams and divisions they’ve had with them since the beginning.

Although they are full, there is a waitlist for those still looking to register, and if you don’t get your chance this year, there’s always next.

Scerbo’s parents, Frank and Jodi Scerbo, put a lot of work into planning the tournament each year, offering new things to the community, which they say is very rewarding.

Over the years, they’ve raised more than $40,000 for Sick Kids, and Frank Scerbo adds they’re always looking to raise more than they did the previous year.

After raising more than $14,000 last year, they have their sights set on donating and giving back even more this year.

“Our reasons for doing it, it’s first and foremost, to honour our son, and to bring attention to what he passed away from,” explains Jodi Scerbo. “And, to bring people together, our community, our family, our friends…everyone coming out and supporting, it means a lot to us, and we just want to keep his memory alive.”

This is also, she adds, being done through Caledon Council’s recent motion to waive the Town’s facility and park asset naming policy to name a gazebo at the Bolton Rotary Generations Park in memory of Raffi.

“We didn’t ask for that, and we didn’t expect it,” she says, “They approached us and asked us if it would be okay, and of course it’s okay. It was very unexpected and very pleasant, it was really nice.”

Each year, the Scerbos hope to bring out more and more of the community and involve them in their annual tournament, this year adding a new division, games, and new activities to encourage more people to come out.

“Come and see what’s there,” says Jodi Scerbo. “It’s not just hockey.”

For those looking to attend and help Raffi’s Rebels make a difference, the tournament will be held on April 25 at the Caledon East Community Complex from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.