Hockey night in Jasper brings former NHLers to town

NHL legends took to the ice April 3, 4 and 5 for the Hockey Night in Jasper charity weekend raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, the Canadian and American Spinal Research Organization, and Jasper Minor Sports.

Although attendance was slightly lower than expected at some of the weekend’s events due to spring break and the beautiful weather, the event raised about $7,500 and will likely become an annual fixture for the community. 

Former NHLers Steve Carlyle, Gary Leeman, Gary Nylund, Ron Flockhart, Billy Smith, Brian Young, Larry Melnyk, Dave Semenko, Brian Trottier, Bob Bourne, Jack Valiquette, Bernie Nicholls, Doug Bodger and former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, played two games, winning both, against the Jasper-Hinton All-stars and the Jasper-Hinton Old-timers. Even the Jasper Novice kids had a chance to take on the NHL heroes during intermissions at each of the games. The Legends also hosted a hockey clinic on Saturday morning for minor hockey players.  

The banquet dinner Saturday evening provided the opportunity for grown men to mingle with – or faun over – their boyhood NHL heros. Doug McPhee emceed the evening and local caterer extraordinaire, Shirley Dorin, treated the guests to many of her signature delights. Guests overheard Larry Melnyk singing Dorin’s praises, especially for her perogies.  

Although the event provided a great opportunity to meet and dine with legendary NHLers, the main thrust for the event was to raise money for charity. There were numerous items up for auction at the banquet, including signed jerseys, sticks and playing cards.   

Dinner was followed with a speech by seven-time Stanley Cup champion Bryan Trottier. He spoke about thr favourite moment of his career, which came when the New York Islanders won their first of four Cups. The Islanders of the his era embodied “grit, character and heart,” he said.  Trottier concluded by telling the crowd that everyone should “have a dream and believe in that dream,” to which he received a standing ovation.  

The humorous portion of the evening came when Jack Valiquette took to the mic introducing all the other players and making wise cracks for the Hot Stove question and answer segment. Who knew, but Valiquette could make it as a comedian in his next life, ending each joke with “it’s a true story.” The players answered questions in typical self-deprecating Canadian humility with diners asking about how many beers the guys would drink after a game and if any of them still had their original teeth.  

It was quite an evening and the former NHL greats enjoyed their time in Jasper, said Semenko (who is enormous by the way) and Fockhart.