If there was a similarity between the two NHL players that spoke at the Nipawin Hawks’ inaugural sports gala, it was their support of others taking up the skates.
Bryan Trottier, who played for New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins, remembered how he was mentored by David “Tiger” Williams when he was a young player and how he helped guide other players in his 22-year career, one that ended with him serving as a veteran mentoring the younger players on the Penguins.
“You need that big brother to help you along,” he said.
Brian McGrattan, who made his debut with the Ottawa Senators, has guided other players that, like him, fell into substance abuse. When he got into the NHL, it was a drinking culture and that was something he did to help with the stress. At 28, he decided to get help, took a year off and took it day-by-day to get back on track. Then, he started to have more focus than ever before, going on a hot playing streak. Now, he works for the Calgary Flames’ development staff.
“Because I put in the work away from the rink, it opened up new doors,” he said.
The sport gala and memorabilia auction, held Nov. 18 at the Evergreen Centre, is a new fundraiser for the Nipawin Hawks.
“As a player in my third season with the organization, I know – along with all of my teammates – the importance of community support,” Brandan Arnold told the guests at the function. “It keeps this franchise alive and well.”
Doug Johnson, the Hawks’ coach, was pleased the two hockey players came.
“We appreciate you coming here because we have to earn every dollar you get and an event like this, to see everyone come out, it’s amazing, it’s because of you two.”
The two former professional hockey players spoke within a question and answer format, with MC Matt Harasymuk, the father of player Brett Harasymuk, keeping the flow going and preventing dead air.
Both players talked about encountering the players they idolized on the ice. Trottier remembered playing a game against Guy Lafleur. He was so entranced that Lafleur skated at him and past him with the puck.
“Wow, look at his hair,” he recalled thinking. “I wonder if mom or dad are watching?”
McGrattan’s favourite player was Joe Sakic. When he played against the Colorado Avalanche, he bought a jersey, passed it to a trainer and got Sakic to sign it.
“It was the coolest thing to play against my favourite player growing up.”
Trottier talked about winning six Stanley Cups as a player. He discussed the intensity required by a team during the playoffs to get the cup.
“It’s a grind. It’s a battle. It’s kind of a war of attrition.”
He could also remember the moments he’s won the cup.
“It’s a release. It’s a moment of, ‘we’re champions,’” he said, telling the audience that at those moments, you want to hug the cup, you do, and then you lift the cup over your head – it’s heavier than you think – and cheer with the excited crowd. At those moments, he said, his senses were heightened, wanting to absorb every second.
“That moment is so vivid, it’s so entrenched.”
The two players had arrived in Nipawin the day before, getting the chance to chat with the Hawks, drop a puck before the Nov. 17 game and have some fun.
“It was great,” McGrattan said. “We got some walleye, fried some walleye and froze our asses off.”
Trottier also gave the team some advice.
“You’re going to have to trust your instincts on the ice,” he said as he repeated the advice to the gala’s audience.
