Roddickton-Bide Arm ready to welcome former NHL stars to northern Newfoundland
Game came together with a little over a month of preparation, and a full community effort
The small northern Newfoundland community of Roddickton-Bide Arm is ready to put on a big welcome to NHL legends for a game against local players.
The NHL Legends of Hockey Tour stops at the Roddickton-Bide Arm Arena on Saturday. It will let local players get the chance to face hockey stars like Rich and Ron Sutter, Chris Nilan, Derian Hatcher and more in a sold-out town arena.
Darrell Randell, a member of Roddickton's town council and the Cloud River Recreation committee, said the tour approached the town following a cancellation in its schedule. The town quickly came together to organize the event in about a month, he said.
The NHL players will take to the ice against local players like Danny Simms, who has been in love the game since he was a young skater. Saturday's matchup will be a dream come true, he said.
"One of the guys that I really watched was Derrian Hatcher. Big defenceman, watched him on the Dallas Stars. Watched him hit a lot of bodies on the blue line," Simms said with a laugh. "So I'm very excited for that, and to go out and just match up against him ... Maybe Derrian Hatcher gets hit by me."
Randell said he also can't wait to meet the players he spent so much time following.
"These are the guys I watched, right? I watched a lot of these guys during the late '80s and saw them play on TV. So to get to actually meet them, it's pretty exciting for us.
The two say the game also brings big positive impacts to the region. Local businesses were quick to jump on board to help sponsor the event, and money raised through ticket sales will go right back into recreation programs like hockey.
In an area where hockey is so important, Randell said he hopes the game can help create big dreams for local players.
"For these kids to get to see actual NHL players to come here, it's amazing. .... Once they come here and start watching the game, start watching the other kids with their fancy jerseys on, we're hoping it will bring in more kids.
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