The Merritt Hockey School is holding a silent auction this week at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

Appropriately, various hockey memorabilia, such as a Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins jersey, an autographed stick from Minnesota Wild goalie Wade Dubielewicz, and Merritt Centennials gear make up most of the items on the block.

Merritt Hockey School founder Nick Kang explained Sunday that the school is raising money for multiple sclerosis research because its head goaltending instructor, Richie Kohorst, is an MS patient.

MS is a disease that affects the nervous system by slowing or blocking messages to and from the brain.

Among its symptoms are paralysis, loss of balance, numbness, weakness and fatigue.

Kohorst was diagnosed in April 2008 after what he describes as a “series of mishaps”, like twisting the same ankle repeatedly. Around the same time, Kohorst felt chronic pain in his knees.

When he checked with a doctor, he learned the trouble was neurological in origin.

“It was either a pinched nerve in my lower back or it was ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often called Lou Gehrig's disease) or it was MS.” (An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that ALS stood for artherolateral sclerosis.)

In winter 2009, Kohorst began a course of chemotherapy. The treatment has proven effective so far. “I seem to have plateaued out.”

Now, he says, “I get good days and bad days.

“The heat is my biggest nemesis,” adds Kohorst.

Coaching on the ice or sitting in an air-conditioned room, he says he feels normal and healthy. However, being outside in the sun is quickly draining.

“You go from doing 180 on the Autobahn to doing 30 kilometres an hour in a school zone in the blink of an eye.”

Kohorst is not sure what the future will bring but is glad he can continue coaching in the present and grateful that he was diagnosed with MS rather than ALS.
“It is the lesser of two evils. People can live with MS.”

The auction items will be displayed at the arena mezzanine until tomorrow afternoon, the last day of hockey school.

“We're shooting for about $1,000. That'd be nice. Then they can find a cure. I'm not asking for much,” says Kohorst with a laugh.

All proceeds from the silent auction will be donated to the MS Society's Kamloops chapter.