Rosters Announced for WHL's 50th Season Pro Am Alumni Game
January 28, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
Kamloops, BC - The Western Hockey League (WHL) announced today the rosters for the WHL's 50th Season Pro Am Alumni Game on Thursday, February 4, as part of the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canadacelebrationsin Kamloops, BC.
The puck will drop on the WHL's 50th Season Pro Am Alumni Game at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 4, at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops. The event will feature former Kamloops Blazers greats Mark Recchi and Darcy Tucker captaining teams made up of NHL and WHL alumni as well as celebrity guests in a fun, family-oriented game.
"The WHL is thrilled to have so many of our alumni return to help us celebrate the WHL's 50th Season with this historic pro-am game," commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. "We appreciate the opportunity our broadcast partner Sportsnet has provided to be part of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada and look forward to Kamloops welcoming back many of the top WHL and Blazers players of all time."
Team Recchi
Team Recchi will be captained by former Kamloops Blazer Mark Recchi and boasts a roster with over 8,000 NHL games played. Recchi played 1,652 of those games himself and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. In total, Team Recchi's roster has also played in 2,320 WHL games and recorded 4,320 NHL points. Former New Westminster Bruin Cliff Ronning will also suit up for Team Recchi and still sits second all-time in the WHL record books with his 197-point campaign in 1984-85.
Ajay Baines
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
Chris Showler
Cliff Ronning
WHL: New Westminster Bruins
NHL: St. Louis, Vancouver, Phoenix, Nashville, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York Islanders
Dave Babych
WHL: Portland Winter Hawks
NHL: Winnipeg, Hartford, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Los Angeles
Dave Chyzowski
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: New York Islanders, Chicago
Dennis Holland
WHL: Portland Winter Hawks
Garth Butcher
WHL: Regina Pats
NHL: Vancouver, St. Louis, Quebec, Toronto
Geoff Smith
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: Edmonton, Florida, New York Rangers
Gord Bamford
22-time CCMA award winner
Greg Hawgood
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: Boston, Edmonton, Philadelphia, San Jose, Vancouver, Dallas
Kirk McLean
NHL: New Jersey, Vancouver, Carolina, Florida, New York Rangers
Kirt Hill
WHL: Regina Pats, Kelowna Rockets
WHL Senior Manager, Player Development
Mark Recchi
WHL: Kamloops Blazers, New Westminster Bruins
NHL: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Montreal, Carolina, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Boston
Marty Recchi
Rich Pilon
WHL: Prince Albert Raiders
NHL: New York Islanders, New York Rangers, St. Louis
Steve Gainey
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: Dallas, Phoenix
Wendel Clark
WHL: Saskatoon Blades
NHL: Toronto, Quebec, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Chicago
Team Tucker
Team Tucker will be led by former Kamloops Blazers great Darcy Tucker. Part of each of the Blazers' record three Memorial Cups in four years in the mid-90s, Tucker went on to an NHL career that spanned 947 games. In total, Team Tucker has played in over 7,500 NHL games and includes Hockey Hall of Famer, and former Medicine Hat Tiger, Lanny McDonald. McDonald won a Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989 and owns 1006 of Team Tucker's 3,784 career NHL points. Team Tucker has a little more WHL flavor than Team Recchi, with 2,951 career WHL games played. Former Blazer Rob Brown will also suit up for Team Recchi and sits fourth in WHL history with 522 career points. Brown also still holds a WHL record with 212 points recorded during the 1986-87 season.
Blair Rota
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
Chris Murray
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: Montreal, Hartford, Carolina, Ottawa, Chicago, Dallas
Corey Hirsch
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: New York Rangers, Vancouver, Washington, Dallas
Cory Cross
NHL: Tampa Bay, Toronto, New York Rangers, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Detroit
Darcy Tucker
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: Montreal, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Colorado
Evan Marble
WHL: Swift Current, Medicine Hat, Moose Jaw, Tri-City
Greg Gardner
WHL: Prince George Cougars
WHL Manager, Education Services
Greg Schell
Jeff Finley
WHL: Portland Winter Hawks
NHL: New York Islanders, Philadelphia, Winnipeg, New York Rangers, Phoenix, St. Louis
Lanny McDonald
WHL: Medicine Hat Tigers, Calgary Centennials
NHL: Toronto, Colorado, Calgary
Les Consenheim
Mark Napier
NHL: Montreal, Minnesota, Edmonton, Buffalo
Rob Brown
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: Pittsburgh, Hartford, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles
Ron MacLean
Host, Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, Rogers Hometown Hockey
Scott Ferguson
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: Edmonton, Anaheim, Minnesota
Steve Passmore
WHL: Tri-City Americans, Victoria Cougars, Kamloops Blazers
NHL: Edmonton, Chicago, Los Angeles
Stu Barnes
WHL: New Westminster Bruins, Tri-City Americans
NHL: Winnipeg, Florida, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Dallas
Wade Redden
WHL: Brandon Wheat Kings
NHL: Ottawa, New York Rangers, St. Louis, Boston
Zac Boyer
WHL: Kamloops Blazers
NHL: Dallas
Last week, the WHL announced that Canadian country music star Gord Bamford will suit up in the game. Kamloops fans will have a chance to be Gord Bamford's guest at the Scotiabank Hockey Day in CanadaCelebrity Luncheon on Thursday afternoon, and to receive tickets to cheer Gord on at the Pro Am game, courtesy of Kamloops Country 103. Fans are encouraged to listen to Country 103 for contest details.
Fans will also have an opportunity to bid on all player jerseys and receive them off the players' backs, on-ice at the conclusion of the game. Proceeds from the jersey auction will be donated to KidSport (www.kidsportcanada.ca), a charitable organization that provides financial assistance to kids who want to play organized sports. Both the WHL and Gord Bamford have long been supporters of KidSport. In addition to the jersey fundraiser, the Gord Bamford Foundation has pledged $125,000 to the organization over a five-year commitment.
Tickets for the WHL 50th Season ProAm Game are available now at the Sandman Centre Box Office (250-828-3339) or Sahali TicketMaster (Adults/Seniors/Youth-$10 plus tax; Children 12 and under $5 plus tax).
Fans are encouraged to wear a jersey throughout the week celebrating Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada. Additional Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canadaevents taking place in Kamloops from February 3 to 6, 2016, include:
Celebrity Luncheon
Thursday, February 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (doors open 11:15 a.m.) - Tournament Capital Centre
With special guests Ron MacLean, Don Cherry, Trevor Linden, as well as numerous NHL Alumni™, the Stanley Cup and Memorial Cup.
Tickets $50 (taxes included)-Tickets available at the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, please call 778-257-5900.
The Music of Hockey Presented by Scotiabank, with host Ron MacLean
Friday, February 5, 2016-7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. - Sandman Centre
Musical guests include hockey legend Bryan Trottier, Dave Bidini & Bidini Band, Tom Wilson, Barney Bentall, Amelia Curran, Craig Northey and Lindy Vopnfjord with numerous special guests making stage appearances throughout the evening.
All tickets $5.00-available at the Sandman Centre Box Office
Kamloops Blazers VS Edmonton Oil Kings
Saturday, February 6, 2016- 5:00 p.m. - Sandman Centre
Special Guests Ron MacLean and Don Cherry will be on-site for the official puck drop
Tickets are available at the Sandman Centre Box Office
A number of other free, local community activities will also take place throughout the community over the multi-day hockey celebration, including an Opening Ceremony at Sun Peaks on Wednesday, February 3, public viewings of the Stanley Cup®, the Memorial Cup, school visits and minor hockey clinics. On Saturday, February 6 at Sandman Centre, hockey fans will enjoy a youth road hockey tournament, Sportsnet's live 13-hour broadcast featuring all seven all seven Canadian NHL® teams in action, NHL Alumni™ autograph sessions, free merchandise, and a Blazers pre-game party. The weekend will also play host to Scotiabank's Community HockeyFest event, where sponsored minor hockey teams can participate in an on-ice clinic with NHL Alumni™.
Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada is a nationally televised event, produced by Sportsnet. Each year a host city is selected from a number of applicants, with the 2016 event to be hosted in Kamloops, BC.
Previous host locations include: Halifax, NS (2015); Lloydminster, AB/SK (2014); Peterborough, ON (2013); Prince Edward Island (2012); Whitehorse, Yukon (2011); Stratford, ON (2010); Campbellton, N.B. (2009); Winkler, MB (2008); Nelson, B.C. (2007); Stephenville, N.L., (2006); Shaunavon, SK (2004); Iqualuit, Nunavut (2003); Windsor, N.S. (2002); Red Deer, AB (2001); and Toronto, ON (2000).
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2016
- Silvertips Host "Local Heroes Night," "Star Wars Night" - Everett Silvertips
- Rosters Announced for WHL's 50th Season Pro Am Alumni Game - Kelowna Rockets
- Rosters Announced for WHL's 50th Season Pro Am Alumni Game - Kamloops Blazers
- Lineup Announced for Special Alumni Game - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pats Recall Robbie Holmes - Regina Pats
- Raiders Sign Zack Hayes - Prince Albert Raiders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
