Glenn Anderson’s NHL All-Stars came to Kingston on Dec. 11 in an event that showed off improvements to the Credit Union Centre, funded through money the community won after finishing second in the Hockeyville contest earlier this year.
In addition to Anderson, a six-time Stanley Cup champion and Hockey Hall of Famer, other former NHL players in attendance included Cliff Ronning, Dave McIlwain, Greg Adams, Doug Bodger and Darrell Shannon.
“I do it for the love of the game. I love hockey, and I love playing. As we get older, our chances to play are limited,” said Anderson.
“We like to get together as much as we can, have some fun, play some hockey, have some laughs and giggles, and share some songs and stories afterward.”
Making people smile keeps Ronning lacing up his skates for events like this.
“We get to visit communities right across the country, and support community groups,” he said, adding that as a sport, “hockey does good things.”
Camaraderie is another big factor, he added.
“It also keeps me in contact with players I played with or against. Glenn and I grew up in the same home town, and I played with Greg Adams, Doug Bodger and some of the others,” Ronning said. “It helps make a lot of local people happy. That’s why I do it.”
On the ice
Some local players, including Kings West MLA Leo Glavine, augmented the All-Stars’ lineup.
“To share the ice with players of that skill level, at any stage of your career, is quite a thrill. They’re great ambassadors for the game, and for the NHL. It was a totally enjoyable evening, and I even got to set up Cliff Ronning for a goal,” he said.
Also suited up, and part of the tour, was Canadian country entertainer Aaron Pritchett, who not only played in the game, but performed the national anthem and also took part in a post-game reception at the Kingston Legion.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said West Nova MP Greg Kerr, who served as coach of the Kingston Credit Union Aces, a team of local players who provided the opposition for the All-Stars.
Included in the Kingston lineup were Cole Rafuse, a Kingston resident and member of the Valley midget AAA Wildcats, who will represent Nova Scotia at the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and several of the Valley junior A Wildcats.
“Some of the old-timers can still move,” said Kerr, pointing towards defenceman Greg Adams, who “was like a flash” skating by the bench.
Along with presenting a cheque for $1,500, the proceeds from the book he edited on Kingston’s quest for Kraft Hockeyville 2014, Don Hyslop got to coach the All-Stars.
“The only words of advice I had for them was to score more goals than the other guys, and they did that,” Hyslop quipped. “I really appreciated the opportunity. It was a real blast.”
The event had a positive reaction from the crowd as well.
“It’s a great event, a lot of fun,” said Berwick resident John Charest, who particularly liked watching a group of local Timbit minor players on the ice. The kids played a couple of shifts against the All-Stars in the first period.
“The little kids was what made it for me.”
Johnny MacDougall made the trip from Coldbrook to take in the game.
“It’s a great event. The (former NHL players) are so fast, and so smooth in transition. It’s hard to believe it’s 15 years or more since some of them last played in the NHL.”
For the purchase of a special ticket, fans were able to visit the All-Stars’ dressing room during the second intermission, and also attend the post-game reception where Pritchett and Valley entertainer Kevin Davison and his band performed.
Successful evening
“All in all, a great evening,” said Credit Union Centre manager Wayne Fowler. “The stands were full, everybody had a great time, and we ended up giving away $5,000 to a deserving person as a promotion.”
Mike Herrick, a former Kingston resident now living in Calgary, won the prize, which had been donated, in the form of an insurance policy, by A.A. Munro Insurance. He shot a puck half the length of the ice through a small opening to win.
See a slideshow of photos from the event here.
Glenn Anderson’s NHL All-Stars came to Kingston on Dec. 11 in an event that showed off improvements to the Credit Union Centre, funded through money the community won after finishing second in the Hockeyville contest earlier this year.
In addition to Anderson, a six-time Stanley Cup champion and Hockey Hall of Famer, other former NHL players in attendance included Cliff Ronning, Dave McIlwain, Greg Adams, Doug Bodger and Darrell Shannon.
“I do it for the love of the game. I love hockey, and I love playing. As we get older, our chances to play are limited,” said Anderson.
“We like to get together as much as we can, have some fun, play some hockey, have some laughs and giggles, and share some songs and stories afterward.”
Making people smile keeps Ronning lacing up his skates for events like this.
“We get to visit communities right across the country, and support community groups,” he said, adding that as a sport, “hockey does good things.”
Camaraderie is another big factor, he added.
“It also keeps me in contact with players I played with or against. Glenn and I grew up in the same home town, and I played with Greg Adams, Doug Bodger and some of the others,” Ronning said. “It helps make a lot of local people happy. That’s why I do it.”
On the ice
Some local players, including Kings West MLA Leo Glavine, augmented the All-Stars’ lineup.
“To share the ice with players of that skill level, at any stage of your career, is quite a thrill. They’re great ambassadors for the game, and for the NHL. It was a totally enjoyable evening, and I even got to set up Cliff Ronning for a goal,” he said.
Also suited up, and part of the tour, was Canadian country entertainer Aaron Pritchett, who not only played in the game, but performed the national anthem and also took part in a post-game reception at the Kingston Legion.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said West Nova MP Greg Kerr, who served as coach of the Kingston Credit Union Aces, a team of local players who provided the opposition for the All-Stars.
Included in the Kingston lineup were Cole Rafuse, a Kingston resident and member of the Valley midget AAA Wildcats, who will represent Nova Scotia at the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and several of the Valley junior A Wildcats.
“Some of the old-timers can still move,” said Kerr, pointing towards defenceman Greg Adams, who “was like a flash” skating by the bench.
Along with presenting a cheque for $1,500, the proceeds from the book he edited on Kingston’s quest for Kraft Hockeyville 2014, Don Hyslop got to coach the All-Stars.
“The only words of advice I had for them was to score more goals than the other guys, and they did that,” Hyslop quipped. “I really appreciated the opportunity. It was a real blast.”
The event had a positive reaction from the crowd as well.
“It’s a great event, a lot of fun,” said Berwick resident John Charest, who particularly liked watching a group of local Timbit minor players on the ice. The kids played a couple of shifts against the All-Stars in the first period.
“The little kids was what made it for me.”
Johnny MacDougall made the trip from Coldbrook to take in the game.
“It’s a great event. The (former NHL players) are so fast, and so smooth in transition. It’s hard to believe it’s 15 years or more since some of them last played in the NHL.”
For the purchase of a special ticket, fans were able to visit the All-Stars’ dressing room during the second intermission, and also attend the post-game reception where Pritchett and Valley entertainer Kevin Davison and his band performed.
Successful evening
“All in all, a great evening,” said Credit Union Centre manager Wayne Fowler. “The stands were full, everybody had a great time, and we ended up giving away $5,000 to a deserving person as a promotion.”
Mike Herrick, a former Kingston resident now living in Calgary, won the prize, which had been donated, in the form of an insurance policy, by A.A. Munro Insurance. He shot a puck half the length of the ice through a small opening to win.
