Some familiar faces laced up their skates to play in North Surrey over the weekend, in the Canucks Autism Network Pro-Am Hockey Tournament this weekend.
Now in its sixth year, the annual charity hockey tournament is the organization's largest fundraiser each year, noted CAN director of marketing and communications Lindsay Petrie, adding the tournament — especially the big all-star game on Sunday (Nov. 3) that featured the most Canucks alumni players — is a highlight for both CAN players as well as former Vancouver NHLers.
Winger Mason Raymond, who made his NHL debut on Canucks' then-top line with Henrik and Daniel Sedin and played with Vancouver from 2007 to 2013, has been involved in the CAN Pro Am tournament for four years now.
"There's so many reason why (I'm involved)... We are very lucky and blessed, as players and former players, to be put in a position to promote and raise some good money for such a great organization," Raymond said Sunday in Surrey. "I always kind of joke, I say, 'We put our jackets on the same way as everybody else,' but we get put in a position to provide a service. And it's a blast."
Petrie said the event keeps growing in popularity each year — so much so, that more than $1 million has been raised this year for CAN.
"It's a record-setting year in terms of fundraising. We're very excited!" she said at the North Surrey Sports and Ice Centre Sunday.
All funds raised will be used to support CAN's delivery of programs for children, youth and adults on the autism spectrum in the province.
"This will make a big difference in the lives of children, youth and adults on the autism spectrum across B.C.," said Petrie.
Raymond, who also helps coach as well as former teammate Ryan Kesler, both performed a ceremonial puck drop before the game began, but couldn't play as they had flights to catch.
Other Canucks alumni players in the Sunday game included Matthew Barnaby, Matt Cooke, Geoff Courtnall, Eddie Lack and Derek Roy on one team with CAN players. They faced off against CAN players including Christian Aquilini, Frank Corrado, Derek Dorsett, Cody Hodgson, David Jones, Brad May and Kirk McLean.
Canadian actor Dylan Playfair, known for his hockey-playing character Reilly in Letterkenny, also laced up his skates to participate.
(In)famous agitator Cooke was in fine form, skating out to 'help' Kesler to the face-off circle for the puck drop, to the delight of other players, and cracking jokes on the bench when not on the ice.
Young Estella Banez, 10, was another highlight of the all-star game, when she sang the Canadian national anthem beautifully — and powerfully — for the gathered spectators. Her brother is on the autism spectrum and benefits from Canucks Autism Network programs.
"Everybody probably knows somebody that has autism... it touches everybody in some sort of way," Raymond said, noting one in 30 children in British Columbia is on the autism spectrum.
"It's an honour to be part of this. It's a great organization... it's very special. As players, it's pretty cool we get to go out do what we did for a living, play some hockey, and make some new friends."
