"Fantasy Saturday" for Lord Lester's Cup '09 in Vancouver, U17 Legacy announced

Wow, what an experience Saturday as I was invited to attend the 2nd annual LORD LESTER'S CUP in Vancouver.

Some background on the event - My good friend Les Doiron rents the ice at Pacific Coliseum for a good ole-fashioned game on shinny between a variety of hockey players from the Alberni Valley, or hockey players with at least a connection to the Alberni Valley.

It's a casual game for the most part, with "hockey players" being described as anyone who has the ability to at least STAND on their skates. At the same time, there was a smattering of former and current Junior A and College and University and Professional players so the game was quite the mish-mash.

After the game of shinny, it's back to the hotel to change and get "freshened up" and then everyone hopped in pre-arranged limos and headed back to the "Rink on Renfrew" for the Vancouver Giants playoff game that night as they hosted the Prince George Cougars. The game of shinny might have been closer than the WHL playoff game, as the Giants hammered the Cougars 9-1.

In the end, what a day, an "experience of a lifetime" to be sure!

HUGE thanks goes out to Dennis See and Les Doiron for all of the work they put into planning the event from everything to the itinerary to transportation to rooms and game tickets and on and on.

A big personal thanks goes out to Tom McEvay for getting me over to take part in the event as one of the two referees. I never felt so smart in all my life!!

I didn't think that I was going to be able to make it to the event, as I didn't have a way to Vancouver and I didn't have a room and on and on and on. Cue Tom, who came into the radio station last week to drop off a copy of the U17 DVD for me. Tom asked if I was going to the "Lester Cup" and I'm sure I said with heartbreak in my eyes that I wouldn't be able to attend. Well Tom saw the heartbreak and wouldn't take no for an answer...He invited me to stay in his room, and he even called a friend to get me a ride over to Vancouver. Special thanks for that goes to Ron Paulson and David McCormick as they let me stow away in the back of their ride over to the Mainland. I was more than happy to share the back with all the hockey equipment!

A final huge thanks goes out to the Sutton Place Hotel, as they offered up a special rate for everyone from the group that stayed at the hotel. THANK YOU.

I am working on a "Highlight Video" as along with being the referee I was given the duty of trying to capture some of the fun of the event on film. I will post a copy of the video here when it's done.

I'm sure everyone who attended has their own special highlight of the weekend. For me, it was just being able to skate on Coliseum ice. Seeing many former Bulldogs and being able to catch up with them was also a fun time. I was REALLY lucky as I got to meet Michael Buble. What a great guy he was...down to earth, polite, and a HOCKEY FAN.

The highlight of the shinny game for me had to be Dennis See -steadingly improving but a rookie hockey player at best :) - doing his best Sidney Crosby imitation in scoring on former Bulldog Harrison May on a penalty shot. I sadly don't think I got the goal on video, but trust me, it was a leg-kick backhand-top shelf beauty! "Mayday" might still be having nightmares about that one


The "Lord Lester's Cup" is only going to be bigger and better in the future, with the hopes of a fun and incredible fantasy day ALSO resulting in a benefit to charities involving kids and sports. So please spread the word and drop me a line HERE if you have any questions or if you'd like to be involved next year.

The combatants
Special thanks to Ronnie for the size medium painted on referee jersey!
The two refs and THE KING Richard Brodeur. Don't Tom's glasses just make him look PERFECT for a ref? HAHA
Heading to the game. Lots of old war stories about Bulldog games gone by for sure with this crew!

Thanks again for the great time ladies and gents!

And don't forget to check back for the video. It's a work in progress!


Switching gears - The 2009 U17 World Hockey Challenge might have ended months ago, but the effects of the tournament are living on.....

March 23, 2009 Port Alberni, BC

For Immediate Release

2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Legacy Announced

Organizers of the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Port Alberni have announced a legacy of $250,000 for the event, held December 28, 2008 to January 4, 2009 at the Alberni Valley Multiplex and partner venues across Vancouver Island.

The legacy funding will be divided up between the Alberni Valley and the five partner venues – Campbell River, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo and Parksville – along with BC Hockey, the host branch.

Ron Paulson, Co-Chair of the host committee, says a number of factors, including high ticket sales, support of the business community, strong attendance at partner community venues, grants from Island Coastal Economic Trust and 2010 Legacies Now, coupled with the financial responsibility of the Port Alberni board of directors in operating within their projected budgets, contributed to the event’s financial success.

"The 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge was an unparalleled success that will leave a legacy, both human and financial for community events for the foreseeable future,” said Paulson. “It was a terrific opportunity to showcase Vancouver Island to the world.”

BC Hockey is also excited about the legacy announcement. “We had confidence in our host organizing committee in Port Alberni, but their hard work and dedication exceeded our expectations,” said Rick Boekestyn BC Hockey President. “Their efforts have translated into a fantastically successful event and will provide a meaningful legacy for hockey in BC.”

“The 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge is an important event for our Program of Excellence, and we are excited that a legacy will be left for future players on Vancouver Island,” said Scott Smith, Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer. “It is my pleasure to congratulate the city, the province, the host committee, the hundreds of volunteers and the thousands of fans that made this possible.”

The host committee also shared information about an economic impact study that was conducted during the event. STEAM (Sport Tourism Economic Assessment Model) is a cutting-edge, economic impact assessment tool that predicts and measures the economic impact of a sport event on a community in Canada. The STEAM report concluded that the combined spending of operations and visitors to the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge totalled close to $3 million in economic activity for the Alberni Valley and the province of British Columbia.

A committee will be named in the coming weeks to govern the legacy application process.

For More Information:

Stefanie Weber

Media Director

2009 World U17 Hockey Challenge

250-735-0766

s-weber@shaw.ca

Ryan Robins

Hockey Canada

Manager, Marketing Services/Events

403-777-4591

rrobins@hockeycanada.ca

_
Hammer