Pats raise nearly $30,000 from SpongeBob jersey auction

By Brett Lubkiwski

The Regina Pats raised $29,550 on Nickelodeon Night at the Brandt Centre on Saturday, when they auctioned off their one-time, game-worn SpongeBob SquarePants jerseys.

Connor Bedard’s No. 98 was to no one’s surprise the night’s top seller, going for $13,025 to a woman from Brandon, Man. What the other jerseys fetched at auction can be seen here.

The Pats were the fourth out of the five Saskatchewan-based WHL teams to host a Nickelodeon Night in the WHL this season.

The Prince Albert Raiders wore Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-themed jerseys. The Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos got their jerseys from Bikini Bottom like the Pats, sporting SpongeBob on their jerseys.

The Saskatoon Blades will be the last team in the province to host a Nickelodeon night on March 4.

All of the money raised in the auctions is going to the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. According to Jada Kook, the community engagement associate for the foundation, it was a surprise to see the donations Saturday get that high.

“It was definitely a shock; we were keeping track of the jersey auction online because it was so exciting,” Kook said. “Watching that number climb and climb until the end of the game on Saturday was so exciting and we are so grateful to be a part of it.”

All of the proceeds will go directly to the foundation and will be used not just at the hospital but to help sick kids across the province who need it.

“(The funds) will go toward supporting the highest-priority needs, which would include enhancement of equipment (at the hospital) and also programming across all of Saskatchewan so we can help kids and families in all postal codes across Saskatchewan,” said Kook.

The cartoon jerseys have been a big hit at the children’s hospital as well, with kids having a chance to see some of their favourite characters on a local hockey team’s jersey.

“They were so fun. We have so many kids who noticed them and were so excited. It was definitely a fun initiative, and I can’t wait to see what the team comes up with next year,” said Kook.