What do Paul Coffey, Joe Nieuwendyk, Brad May, Wade Redden and Al Iafrate have in common?
They will all be in Kelowna June 10 to 12 for the first Okanagan Hockey Heroes Weekend.
Hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation the 16-team tournament will welcome NHL alumni as well as hockey players of all levels to the Capital News Centre in Kelowna.
Players will be coming from throughout B.C., Alberta and Washington State in order to fundraise and get their chance to play with an NHL great all weekend long.
“This weekend is about raising money for Heart and Stroke, and creating a fun memorable experience for our teams,” said Jessica Samuels, Okanagan and Kootenay area manager for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
“We are working with area golf courses for teams to hit the links between hockey games, there will be plenty of great prizes to be won throughout the tournament, and of course the opportunity to spend all weekend with our NHL alumni.”
This three-day event consists of fun on and off the ice; kicking off with the alumni draft night and followed up with two full days of tournament play. The weekend wraps ups with a game on Sunday afternoon featuring the 16 top fundraisers playing with the 16 alumni in a game that will be open to the public.
Confirmed NHL Alumni:
Paul Coffey: second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points.
Coffey played for nine teams in his NHL career including the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Redwings, Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins
Joe Nieuwendyk: Two time Olympian, three Stanley Cups, Hockey Hall of Famer and twenty NHL season including playing with the Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers.
Michael Krushelnyski: four time Stanley Cup Champion who played with the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
Wade Redden: two time NHL All-Star and former player of the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.
Brad May: Stanley Cup champion and former player of the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Redwings.
Al Iafrate: Known for his hard slap shot, he is a former player of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and San Jose Sharks.
Registration for Okanagan Hockey Heroes Weekend is now open.
Individuals and teams can register at www.hockeyheroesweekend.com or they contact Christina Ferreira, Hockey Heroes Weekend co-ordinator at cferreira@hsf.bc.ca or 778-313-8090.