Heights High Hockey Alumni Will Play Games to Honor Barden, Benner and Carter Friday

Eleven years has passed since the Cleveland Heights High School hockey family lost Kyle Barden, Brendon Benner and Milton Carter II in a car accident.

The grief hit hard then — just days before the first round of the playoffs, just months shy of graduation — but time has helped to heal some of the wounds.

And so does the annual event that honors the players who passed.

On Dec. 23, hundreds of hockey players and alumni, parents, friends and fans will gather for the 11th Annual Barden Benner Carter Memorial Alumni Hockey Game.

Players from 1970 through 2011 will play. they had to split the evening into two games. The same will happen Friday: Game 1 will start at 6:30 p.m. followed by Game 2 at 8:15 p.m. in the . The event is free.

A foundation was set up in memory of the players as well — The Barden Benner Carter Memorial Foundation. According to the website, $53,000 in scholarships has been awarded since the foundation was established in 2001.