BEER LEAGUES
Fun and Fundraising Highlight Keane Celebrity Classic
It was one of those tournaments in which nobody cared who won. It was Beer League hockey at its finest – a bunch of old guys who love the game, representing their businesses with passion and pride while trying to do their best to outplay some of the greatest former NHL stars in the game’ s history. It was the Mike Keane Celebrity Classic and it was, indeed, a fundraising classic.
JOHN LECLAIR AND DAVE CAMERON
104 GAME ON 2017 PLAYOFF EDITION
WINNIPEG JETS PRESIDENT
AND GOVERNOR, MARK CHIPMAN, LEADS
THE RUSH
By Scott Taylor Photos by Bruce Fedyck
Somebody actually won the 2017 Mike Keane Celebrity Hockey Classic, but nobody really wanted to talk about it. After all, this annual Beer League tournament wasn’ t about winning and losing. It was about raising money for Continuity Care Inc. and the True North Youth Foundation. In fact, according to Dwayne Green, the executive director of the True North Youth Foundation, the tournament was the big winner, raising $ 470,000 before expenses. And really, that’ s what the event was all about. And, man, what an event. Every year, three-time Stanley Cup champion and former Manitoba Moose star, Mike Keane, brings 15 other former NHL stars to the MTS Iceplex and with 16 corporate and Beer League teams, raises money to support local charity efforts. This year, Keane’ s former NHL pals included: Hall of Famers Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey and Joe Nieuwendyk, along with Kelly Chase, Ron Duguay, Shane Hnidy, Al Iafrate, John LeClair, Brad May, Brendan Morrison, Brenden Morrow, Adam oates, Brian Skrudland, PJ Stock and goaltender Marty Turco. Although, to be fair, Turco played forward because that’ s what old goalies like to do. For the local Beer League stars who took part in the event back on Feb. 23, at the Iceplex, it could not have been more fun.“ It was great to see a lot of the local hockey guys in a real good hockey environment with a lot of old NHL players,” said Dave Cameron, a former pro and now on-ice hockey instructor with True North Sports and Entertainment.“ It’ s been a really great experience. It’ s been fun to talk with all the pros. John LeClair has been with our team( PCL / Pelleurs) and he’ s been incredible. Talking to him about his days in the game and listening to him tell some stories and just watching the way he plays the game and moves the puck, it’ s been a really satisfying experience.”