Langley Times

Hockey pros lace up for charity game

 

NHL players, from left, Milan Lucic Andrew Ladd, Troy Brouwer and Brent Seabrook and the AHL’s Jason Garrison signed autographs for fans following a charity hockey game at the Walnut Grove Sportsplex on Wednesday night. Nearly $4,000 was raised for the B.C. Childhood Cancer Parents Association.

Gary Ahuja/Langley Times

Imagine watching Boston Bruin Milan Lucic streaking toward you down the ice, ready to unleash a wicked wrist shot.

Or seeing him stand in front of the net, doing what he does best as one of the NHL’s young up-and-coming power forwards.

That is what faced Langley’s Daniel Spence, as he played goal for Team TommyFit on Wednesday night at the Walnut Grove Sportsplex.

Lucic was skating for Team Vancouver Hockey School, which prevailed 6-1 in a charity hockey game, with the proceeds going to the B.C. Childhood Cancer Parents Association.

Nearly $4,000 was raised at the first annual event.

Lucic was one of several Lower Mainland NHL players taking part in the game.

Some of the others included Brent Seabrook, Andrew Ladd and Troy Brouwer, of the Chicago Blackhawks, Shaone Morrisonn of the Washington Capitals and the Minnesota Wild’s Greg Zanon.

The rest of the rosters were made up of professional players from the AHL, some of whom are playing in Europe, as well as some junior hockey players from the area.

Some of the local products in the game included Ryan Hollweg, John Lammers and Ben Walter.

Matt Pope and Tyler Burton, both recovering from injury, served as assistant coaches for Team TommyFit.

The game was the product of an impromptu decision made only a week before to stage the charity fundraiser.

“It was drummed up in a golf game with Derek Popke,” said Mike Thompson, who runs TommyFit Ltd.,which offers hockey-specific strength and conditioning for players at all levels.

Popke runs the Vancouver Hockey School.

Thompson and Popke had planned on having their players scrimmage at some point this summer and Thompson decided he wanted to make it a charity event.

“Honestly, this was put together in a week, and almost (caused) a divorce at home,” he said.

“It was a lot of work and kind of stressful, but fun.

“It took on a life of its own.”

Thompson’s wife, Kim, chose the charity.

“I lost my dad about two years ago to cancer,” Thompson said, choking up.

“And Kim lost her best friend, Anne Hansen, in February.”

“It is a great charity; you don’t realize the battle that these families face,” he said.

The players jumped on board.

“The guys have been so good and supportive,” Thompson said.

The players signed autographs before the game, during intermissions, and after the game. Some lucky fans even got hockey sticks.

“And we really appreciate the support the community has given us,” Thompson said.

A couple hundred fans packed the Sportsplex to watch the game and admission was by donation.

Thompson plans to do this again next summer, but will likely move to a bigger venue.

Spence, who is finished his junior career and expects to sign his first pro contract shortly, said it was great to give back and to also see friends.

“It was really cool to be out there,” he said.

“I grew up playing with them (in spring leagues).

“Those guys are in the NHL now, so it is great to see them again.”