As the line-up outside gradually moved into the sold out cozy La Palestre Arena in Gravelbourg on the afternoon of January 20, there was the buzz of anticipation and excitement one would expect from a hockey town awaiting the arrival of the famed Montreal Canadiens.
With presenting sponsor CPS (Crop Production Services) that had stepped in big time initially to get things rolling and a packed house of 800 in attendance along with over 100 volunteers on hand, they were ready to witness the battle between a determined group of skaters representing many communities throughout Southern Saskatchewan known as the Noekeu Old Stars and the NHL stars.
Similar to Gravelbourg with roots as far back as 1906 when it became an early outpost of French Canada, the Canadiens franchise was founded in 1909, and became of the oldest and most successful hockey brands in the world, displaying its combination of red, blue, and white uniforms as an important part of French-Canadian culture. With that in mind, it was not surprising to see many jerseys throughout the crowd. This was Hockey Night in Gravelbourg. Let the puck drop!
As the nine-member NHL team skated onto the ice, one can’t help but be impressed to see skill and talent still remaining with each stride, shot or pass, but it is the obvious love of the game and for the fans that stands out the most. As the two teams settled into the game, the crowd enjoys the end-to-end rushes, big saves and overall hockey fun. While there is definitely an element of competition, there is also a sense of camaraderie and spirit shared by all those on the ice. For the record, the final score will either be 8-6 or 8-5 for the Canadiens over the Old Stars, depending on how you count Stephane Richer’s final goal shot into his own net.
Jordan Brisebois, President of Gravelbourg Minor Hockey is one of the organizers of the event. While a Detroit Red Wing fan growing up and now cheering for the Pittsburgh Penguins, he appreciates events like this are more than the final score. He also shares one connection with the team on the ice - his son, a goalie whose favourite player is current Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.
After spending the weekend with the players, he can’t help but be impressed by how they engage with the fans of all ages and spend time talking and sharing stories just like any regular person. He also had a front row seat to see how events like this bring the community together. “We had players and volunteers from all over the region. When we come together under one banner and for one cause, it truly feels special,” added Brisebois. “Once the final amount of money is calculated, funds will be distributed to volunteer groups of all kind, many giving their time over the weekend for this event.”
Even after the game was over, the weekend was just beginning. During the Saturday evening, a banquet and auction was conducted with Brisebois estimating money raised from the auction alone will be about $80,000. “The community was just awesome in how it stepped up. Our final auction item included a box at an Edmonton Oiler game with accommodations. It went for $19,000.” Other fundraising events over the weekend included tickets to win a new Holland Boomer 24 Tractor donated by E. Bourassa and Sons, a Hockey Showdown including a Kermit Shoot as well as a cash lotto, and a 50/50 draw.
To cap off the weekend, a Family Fun Day was held on January 21 attended by all the Montreal Canadiens Alumni Team. With a perfect day outside, families of all ages interacted with the players inside the arena, getting autographs, playing the Celebrity Shootout and ending with a Skate with the Kids. “It was great to see the kids looking up to these stars,” added Brisebois. “Also getting advice about how they might fulfill their own NHL dream.”
Brisebois went on to explain that with such community spirit and great volunteers putting on an event like this, it also speaks well for the town possibly hosting even larger events in the future. “We have our eye on something in January 2019. A bigger event we would love to be involved in. After seeing this weekend, I have no doubt we can demonstrate how successful we can be.”
