Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. North
  3. Local Sports

North Stars raise funds with player auction

The Battlefords North Stars players were on the auction block Saturday night. No, the North Stars weren't being traded, as the trade deadline had passed earlier that week.
By John Cairns Staff Reporter
GN201210301189976AR.jpg
North Stars players were on the auction block Saturday night as local businesses or organizations placed bids for the right to have a North Star player make an appearance for the day at their own event in the community. Graham Hildebrand was one of the first players to strut his stuff and earn some bids. It was all part of an Evening with the Stars event designed to help raise money and build interest in the team.Photo by John Cairns

The Battlefords North Stars players were on the auction block Saturday night.

No, the North Stars weren't being traded, as the trade deadline had passed earlier that week. Instead, the players were offering themselves up for appearances and community work to businesses or organizations in the Battlefords as part of a player auction, which took place during the Evening with the Stars event held at the Civic Centre Saturday evening.

The event featured food, drinks, and a silent auction on a number of items including tickets to the RBC Cup in Humboldt, a signed North Stars jersey and other prizes.

The highlight, though, was the live auction conducted by the team's trainer Dale Jackson and two auctioneers from Kramer Auctions Ltd.

The auctioneers took bids on various North Stars for public appearances for the day at the bidder's business or event.

Some players showed off their skills at dancing or doing push-ups in an effort to get higher bids. Some players netted bids upwards of $200 or more.

In the end, the North Star players got even with Jackson by putting him on the auction block as well, which drew some laughs and a few bids.

The event and the live auction was a new way for the North Stars to fundraise for the organization. North Stars office and marketing manager Jillian Miller said the event piggybacked on the "parents and billets weekend," a time for parents and billets to get together along with the corporate sponsors to celebrate what they do to support the players.

"We decided, while we have everyone down here, why not make it an event that's open to the public," said Miller.

She noted a lot of families had come in from as far away as Nunavut to support their players at the event.

There was also a pre-game ceremony to salute the parents and billets before Friday night's game against Nipawin at the Civic Centre.

There are more events coming later on to help raise funds for the North Stars. Their annual Fish Derby is coming up Feb. 18 on Jackfish Lake, with more information about that available on northstars.ca.