A long-running effort to unite different faiths through hockey in Israel is refocusing its efforts on preserving the so-called family jewels with an initiative dubbed “Operation Jock Strap.”
Montreal-based organizer David Lisbona, who has been sending donated equipment to Israel with his brother-in-law for the last 25 years, says jocks are in short supply at the hockey school they support in Metula.
“That type of equipment is not readily available in Israel,” Lisbona told CTV’s Your Morning on Wednesday. “And frankly, we don’t send it if it’s donated here… for hygienic reasons.”
Lisbona put out a call for the much-needed junk protectors recently and has been flooded with donations. He’s now something of a jock-strap collector, with hundreds of the protective pieces in his basement and another 150 ready to be sent overseas. He’s bought many of the jocks from dollar stores and has accepted many more brand-new cups from donors.
“People keep hearing about the effort and I keep getting jock straps,” he said. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”
He says all the donations are greatly appreciated at the Canada Israel Hockey School in Metula, where the sport has brought together many different groups that are often at odds outside the arena.
“I call it peace through hockey,” Lisbona said.
