It might not be the best kept secret but nonetheless it’s exciting news, whether you are hearing it for the first time or the second. The Montreal Canadien alumni team is coming to Unity Nov. 27, to play a team from town.
The Montreal Canadien alumni hockey tour is presented by Canadian Tire but the game and event in town will be supported by a number of local sponsors.
What will be unique about the Canadiens’ opposition in Unity is the opposition team will be paying for the privilege to play against the Habs alumni team. Details are being hammered out on how this selection process will work and organizers promise to let folks know as soon as the details are available.
A familiar committee with experience in setting up big ticket hockey events in town as a fundraiser jumped back on board to once again spearhead another exciting event at the local area.
This committee, once again co-chaired by “the Ricks” — Rick Blanchette and Rick Hill — jumped into action gathering sponsors, including securing the co-operative partnership of Delta Co-op and Unity Credit Union as major sponsors. Funds raised at the event are earmarked for the food bank, the Unity Community Resource Centre and at least one other organization but the decision has not been made final yet.
The time sensitivity of the contract signing, agreeing to play host to this game, fell right in the middle of summer holidays so a whirlwind meeting was set up to start the process of planning and organizing this big event, nominating folks for sub-committees to begin the planning process. The committee is made up of folks who recently organized the World Junior A Hockey event in December, 2014, in Unity.
The Canadien alumni team selected three locations in Saskatchewan to take their game to, with La Ronge and Yorkton being selected as the other two. Some of the players listed on their roster include recently retired players as well as fan favourites from the past.
With a number of other fundraising initiatives planned in conjunction with the game itself, one of the more unique parts of this excitement is that players who may want to be part of the team playing opposition to the Hab favourites will pay for this privilege. Team selection details will be released soon as the committee has time to meet again before September.
There is also a unique “thrill of a lifetime” opportunity for two Habs fans as they can pay to have the privilege to actually play with the Canadiens themselves, receiving also their own jersey with their name on the back and having the opportunity at intermission to have that jersey signed.
So many things are happening so quickly, it would be impossible to report on each and every one of the steps taking place as part of the planning for the big game and events that will accompany the visit by this Montreal Canadien alumni team.
Watch for details around town and in the papers regarding updates on yet another exciting hockey event coming to Unity.
