If the cast of snipers and grinders assembled to take on the Calgary Flames alumni on Wednesday, November 11 at Drumheller Memorial Arena, come home with a “W” they will be in good company.
Former Calgary Flames are lacing up to play a charity game in support of the Badlands Community Facility, and as former Flame Jim Peplinski tells The Mail, the alumni come to win.
“The only team we lost to was the Women’s National team,” said Pepper, co-captain of the 1989 Stanley Cup winning Flames. “It seems every time we play women we lose. But other than that, never.”
That might be a bet you can take to the bank. A short list confirmed (allthough he adds the caveat; subject to road conditions, physical debilities that may occur between now and November 11, and kids commitments that are not on the schedule) include himself, Lanny McDonald, Jamie Macoun, Dana Murzyn, Perry Berezan and Sheldon Kennedy.
“Let me put it this way, that is our second line,” he says, adding the Flames’ second all time scoring leader Theoren Fleury could even make an appearance.
“I did mention it to him before his book came out and he said ‘absolutely,’ but his schedule has been packed up since then, so I don’t know if he will make it,” said Peplinski.
He says they are prepared too.
“We just had our alumni training camp, and we are getting ready for a full slate. Training camp included medical testing, conditioning, and our first exhibition game. It lasted an hour and 15 minutes,” he said.
He says the Flames alumni are supportive of endeavours that provide recreation to young people. The connection to the Drumheller project came early on in the process when the committee was in talks in regards to the Scott Seaman Rink project, which Peplinski is involved with through the Calgary Flames Foundation.
“We originally looked at being a part of Drumheller facility improvement project, but for a number of different reasons that did not come to fruition,” he said. “What we were able to do at minimum was get our alumni engaged to come out and bring some awareness to the good work that is being done.”
“We are involved with anything that we can find the time for, and that can make a positive difference in getting active and playing sports, whether it be hockey or anything else.”
Part of this connection came through a friend of Peplinski, and committee member Elson McDougald, and Pepper is ready to mix things up.
“You may have not heard this yet, but the real draw to my understanding… I haven’t spoke to him yet, but I am hearing this through my trap line…is Elson McDougald is going to play goal (for the Drumheller squad),” chuckles Peplinski. “He’s calling us out and says he has had a shut out for his entire life, and doesn’t expect to be scored on.”