The Stanley Cup hockey fever may be over for another year as summer activities finally arrive, but local NHL hockey fans can still get their fix this weekend when three up-and-coming professional players visit fans at their Aldergrove hometown.
NHL pros Cameron Abney, Dean Arsene and Brad Thiessen all grew up in the Aldergrove area and still have family living here. The three men will be at Aldergrove Arena this Saturday, July 16 from noon to 2 p.m., to meet their hometown fans and old friends.
It鈥檚 a fund-raiser for the Aldergrove Food Bank and is co-hosted by the Aldergrove Kodiaks junior B hockey team and TNT Hockey Performance Training.
鈥淓veryone who brings a non-perishable food donation of $10 or more will get autographs and photos from the players,鈥� said Mike Thompson, a co-owner of TNT along with Tyler Jackson.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough time of year for the food banks and we wanted to help them out with this event.鈥�
Abney, 19, is a bruising winger who was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2010 and signed a two-way contract this spring.
Arsene, 30, is a defenceman who has just signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Thiessen, 25, is a goalie on a two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Thiessen had an outstanding season last year with the Penguins鈥� AHL affiliate and was named to the AHL All Star team.
TNT鈥檚 Jackson has been training Thiessen since his Junior B Hockey days eight years ago, and says that while Thiessen 鈥渉as always been under the radar鈥� his prowess as a goalie is a result of 鈥渁ll hard work. I鈥檝e never seen anyone work as hard as Brad. He鈥檚 a real determined guy.鈥�
Rick Harkins, owner and general manager of the Aldergrove Kodiaks, will also be at Aldergrove Arena this Saturday, along with some of the next season鈥檚 players, including captain Jordan Pughe.
鈥淲e will be selling season tickets at a reduced rate, and all Aldergrove Minor Hockey kids can attend Kodiaks season games free if accompanied by an adult,鈥� said Harkins.
Thompson will also have tickets available for the annual TNT charity golf tournament, August 4 at Northview Golf and Country Club, as well as the charity hockey game at 91原创鈥檚 Sportsplex on the next night. All proceeds go to the B.C. Cancer Parents Association, a registered charity based in Cloverdale, and Thompson is aiming to raise at least $10,000 that weekend for the cause.
For the golf tournament, companies can purchase a foursome for $400 (which includes green fees and golf cart). For that price, they get three spots, while the fourth will be filled by a professional (NHL and AHL) hockey players.
Some of the confirmed players include Troy Brouwer (Washington Capitals), James Reimer (Toronto Maple Leafs), Vern Fiddler (Dallas Stars) and Greg Zanon (Minnesota Wild).
For information or registration for either of these special events, call Thompson at 604-723-8198 or Jackson at 604-836-2448.
鈥� with files from Gary Ahuja/91原创 Times
