The regular black and orange of the Drumheller Memorial Arena was muted Wednesday as the red, blue and white took over for the night.
The Drumheller Memorial Arena was at near capacity as legendary Montreal Canadiens skated on to the ice to take on a team of Drumheller All Stars. Legends like Steve Shutt and Stephane Richer lined up under the watchful eye of coach Guy Lafleur.
While it wasn’t the hallowed Montreal Forum, the mystique of the Habs was present.
“There is no question with the Canadiens, no matter where we go, there are so many fans that remember all those years, they remember so many of the good times, and we get a chance to share it with them,” said Rick Green, who played for the Habs for six seasons. “We can go to the smallest areas, down east or up north, and people come out, they want to talk hockey and share their stories.”
He chuckles that some of the fans remember those stories better than the players.
Lafleur told inSide Drumheller it amazes and surprises them when they see this type of turnout for a game featuring players who have not been on the ice for years.
“We have been away from hockey for so many years. I think people do this because they have a tough time identifying with today’s players, and when they do, they can’t talk to them or take pictures. We are always available to our fans, even when we played in the pros,” said Lefluer. “In a way it keeps us alive.”
For many spectators, it was a thrill to just see some of the stars in the flesh. For a number of players it was a dream come true. Not only did Marcel Augey get to play with the Montreal Canadiens, but he also scored the first goal assisted by Stephane Richer. It certainly wasn’t the last as Sheldon Straub scored for the All Stars just a few minutes later. The finals score was 10-8 for the Habs.
For one member of the All Stars, it was a long road back to hockey, and he was happy to take it. In fact, it took 17 years. Laverne Bremer has been a Montreal fan he estimates since he was one year old. He played as a youngster and also coached for his kids’ teams. Since his son passed away almost two decades ago in a tragic accident, he had never laced on his skates. He was hoping to get tickets for the game, but was surprised by his wife and daughter who bought his place on the team. Within a month he had found his hockey legs again.
The event was in support of raising funds for the Badlands Community Facility. Organizers were pleased with the turnout for the event, and the entertainment value it provided. Some youngsters had the opportunity to have a brush with greatness when the Drumheller All Star Kids played an impromptu game at one of the period changes.
“We travel all over the country and have an opportunity to meet a lot of people, and we really enjoy the experience of giving back to the communities,” said Green.