Post by dogcatcher on Sept 7, 2007 6:10:19 GMT -4
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Hockey NHL Legends touch down in Miramichi and Saint John next week
SCOTT BRIGGS
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Published Friday September 7th, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - Harbour Station is hosting its share of entertainment this month.
There's Juno-Award winning rockers Billy Talent on stage tonight before country sensation Brad Paisley performs Tuesday night. And shortly after those acts leave the building, the Saint John Sea Dogs begin their third season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Sept. 21.
Sandwiched between the singers and the Sea Dogs is the NHL Legends versus the Saint John Legends on Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m., a charity contest for cancer research. The NHL squad, which includes the likes of Bob Probert, Bryan Trottier and Billy Smith, also will play at the Miramichi Civic Centre on Sept. 13.
Saint John-based promoter Steve Walton knows he's competing for people's entertainment dollars, but he still has high hopes for a good crowd at Harbour Station, which has a capacity of 6,308. In a special two-for-one deal, two adult tickets cost $22.50 while two tickets for children 12-and-under go for $17.50.
"I definitely feel $22.50 for this quality sporting event is a fair price,'' Walton said. "Unlike a lot of other venues, I have quite a few seats to fill. I would rather see the rink full of kids and fans, and make it affordable.''
Aside from the two-for-one deal, Walton believes the corporate community will help put bums in the seats by buying tickets and giving them to organizations like the Boys and Girls Club. He said about 1,000 tickets had been sold through Thursday.
"They (ticket sales) haven't been as brisk as I had hoped, but they have picked up,'' Walton said. "The box office should start to roll on the weekend and into next week.
"If you're a fan at all of Canada's game, you should be at Harbour Station on Sept. 14. It costs around $10 or more to go to a movie and this game will feature some of the greatest hockey players to ever play the game.''
That list includes Stanley Cup champions Glenn Anderson, Gaston Gingras and Chris Nilan. Former 50-goal scorer Gary Leeman, whose pro career included an American Hockey League stop in Fredericton, will also suit up.
In addition, the NHL Legends' lineup will have a Saint John flavour. Yvon Vautour, whose pro career saw him play for the Islanders with Trottier and Smith, is on board and so is former International Hockey Leaguer Greg Sanford.
Local senior stars John Jarvis and Tim Jones will be with the NHL Legends, too, while Mac Wickens and Gary Crossman will serve as trainers. Ronnie Craft is the stick boy and Jonathan Boyle the water boy. The roster also will include the winner of an upcoming skills competition. Jarvis is the only local player who's also expected to play in the Miramichi contest.
The Saint John Legends' lineup includes Mike Clarke, Jeff Walker, Robert Ward, Terry Gray, Joe Savoie, Pat Vaughan, Bill Vaughan, Mark LeBlanc, Rob Bennett, Deke Cheney, Jason Underhill, Rick Deering, Dave Baxendale, Terry Nadeau, Jeff Craft, Gerald Buckley, Devon Devarrenne, along with goalies Mike Vaughan and Corey Hanley and coach Jeff Quinn.
Walton, who hasn't ruled out the possibility of suiting up himself, said fans will get plenty of chances to mingle with the ex-NHLers.
The players will sign autographs during intermissions and there's a post-game reception free of charge at Dooly's Loch Lomond Mall.
"There's quite a mix of accolades and a good mix of (the players' former) teams,'' said Walton, who's having a hard time resisting the chance to play against Probert, a power-forward who had the ability to beat opponents - literally, sometimes - in every way possible.
"To most people, he's the undisputed toughest guy to play in the NHL,'' Walton said, adding that he expects Probert to arrive at the Saint John Airport on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Walton will take calls at 721-4263 for anyone wishing to book an autograph signing with the former enforcer on Wednesday. Probert's Port City tour includes stops at the Boys and Girls Club and the Saint John Regional Hospital.
Walton said several factors determine ticket prices for an NHL Legends game, including player fees, airfares, hotels and meals, uniforms and the cost of advertising.
"It's a bit of a gamble, as with all promotions, but this is a fun one,'' he said.
Hockey NHL Legends touch down in Miramichi and Saint John next week
SCOTT BRIGGS
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Published Friday September 7th, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - Harbour Station is hosting its share of entertainment this month.
There's Juno-Award winning rockers Billy Talent on stage tonight before country sensation Brad Paisley performs Tuesday night. And shortly after those acts leave the building, the Saint John Sea Dogs begin their third season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Sept. 21.
Sandwiched between the singers and the Sea Dogs is the NHL Legends versus the Saint John Legends on Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m., a charity contest for cancer research. The NHL squad, which includes the likes of Bob Probert, Bryan Trottier and Billy Smith, also will play at the Miramichi Civic Centre on Sept. 13.
Saint John-based promoter Steve Walton knows he's competing for people's entertainment dollars, but he still has high hopes for a good crowd at Harbour Station, which has a capacity of 6,308. In a special two-for-one deal, two adult tickets cost $22.50 while two tickets for children 12-and-under go for $17.50.
"I definitely feel $22.50 for this quality sporting event is a fair price,'' Walton said. "Unlike a lot of other venues, I have quite a few seats to fill. I would rather see the rink full of kids and fans, and make it affordable.''
Aside from the two-for-one deal, Walton believes the corporate community will help put bums in the seats by buying tickets and giving them to organizations like the Boys and Girls Club. He said about 1,000 tickets had been sold through Thursday.
"They (ticket sales) haven't been as brisk as I had hoped, but they have picked up,'' Walton said. "The box office should start to roll on the weekend and into next week.
"If you're a fan at all of Canada's game, you should be at Harbour Station on Sept. 14. It costs around $10 or more to go to a movie and this game will feature some of the greatest hockey players to ever play the game.''
That list includes Stanley Cup champions Glenn Anderson, Gaston Gingras and Chris Nilan. Former 50-goal scorer Gary Leeman, whose pro career included an American Hockey League stop in Fredericton, will also suit up.
In addition, the NHL Legends' lineup will have a Saint John flavour. Yvon Vautour, whose pro career saw him play for the Islanders with Trottier and Smith, is on board and so is former International Hockey Leaguer Greg Sanford.
Local senior stars John Jarvis and Tim Jones will be with the NHL Legends, too, while Mac Wickens and Gary Crossman will serve as trainers. Ronnie Craft is the stick boy and Jonathan Boyle the water boy. The roster also will include the winner of an upcoming skills competition. Jarvis is the only local player who's also expected to play in the Miramichi contest.
The Saint John Legends' lineup includes Mike Clarke, Jeff Walker, Robert Ward, Terry Gray, Joe Savoie, Pat Vaughan, Bill Vaughan, Mark LeBlanc, Rob Bennett, Deke Cheney, Jason Underhill, Rick Deering, Dave Baxendale, Terry Nadeau, Jeff Craft, Gerald Buckley, Devon Devarrenne, along with goalies Mike Vaughan and Corey Hanley and coach Jeff Quinn.
Walton, who hasn't ruled out the possibility of suiting up himself, said fans will get plenty of chances to mingle with the ex-NHLers.
The players will sign autographs during intermissions and there's a post-game reception free of charge at Dooly's Loch Lomond Mall.
"There's quite a mix of accolades and a good mix of (the players' former) teams,'' said Walton, who's having a hard time resisting the chance to play against Probert, a power-forward who had the ability to beat opponents - literally, sometimes - in every way possible.
"To most people, he's the undisputed toughest guy to play in the NHL,'' Walton said, adding that he expects Probert to arrive at the Saint John Airport on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Walton will take calls at 721-4263 for anyone wishing to book an autograph signing with the former enforcer on Wednesday. Probert's Port City tour includes stops at the Boys and Girls Club and the Saint John Regional Hospital.
Walton said several factors determine ticket prices for an NHL Legends game, including player fees, airfares, hotels and meals, uniforms and the cost of advertising.
"It's a bit of a gamble, as with all promotions, but this is a fun one,'' he said.