By Lexi McFarlane, Times Chronicle
A host of former Vancouver Canucks players will be taking to the ice next month in collaboration with the Osoyoos Coyotes Junior “A” franchise for a special cause.
The Coyotes, along with some former NHL players, are sponsoring a charity hockey game that will take place on Saturday, September 20 at Sun Bowl Arena. The game will feature an Osoyoos alumni team taking on a roster of Canucks Alumni.
Proceeds from the event will go to support the Osoyoos Rotary Club, with a goal of supporting youth hockey programs in the area. The Osoyoos Rotary Club helps support and organize a number of events in the community, including the ever-popular upcoming Lobster on the Beach fundraiser on Sept. 13.
Osoyoos All Stars jersey.
Contributed image
One member of the Canucks alumni partaking in this game is Doug Bodger. He said the idea came together thanks primarily to local product Neil Eisenhut, who maintains a strong connection with Osoyoos. Eisenhut is motivated to support a good cause in his hometown.
“[Eisenhut] grew up there, and so this means a lot to him,” Bodger noted.
This is a way to give back to the community, he explains, that Eisenhut cares so deeply about.
Eisenhut, a member of the 1993-94 Canucks team that went to the Stanley Cup Final, teamed up with more than just Canucks alumni to put together this game. The benefit to the Osoyoos Rotary Club is a focal point of the event, and connections there made this game possible.
“Larry Stone, [he’s] the Rotary connection helping with organizing,” Bodger says. “And Larry Racanello is the game sponsor.”
He adds that this is a significant opportunity to support youth hockey in the region. With the expenses for youth hockey being considerably high, an event like this can go pretty far in making playing youth hockey a more attainable goal for players in the area.
Other Canucks alumni participating in the exhibition game include Chris Higgins, Aaron Volpatti, Greg “Gus” Adams, Dave Babych, Ron Flockhart, Cliff Ronning, and Jyrki Lumme.
An autograph session will take place the same day as the game, beginning at 1 PM. The game itself will be played at the Sun Bowl Arena later in the day, with a start time to be announced. Additional pre-game festivities will be included outside the Sun Bowl Arena, which the general public will be invited to take part in.
Reserved seats are available at $25 from the Coyotes website or contact Randy Bedard at [email protected].