NHL players visit Cold Lake

The Indigenous NHL Alumni team was in town Sunday night to take on local hockey players from the Cold Lake Arrows in an exhibition game at the Energy Centre. “We wanted to provide a positive family friendly night,” said Dean Janvier, a Cold Lake First Nations councillor. “We want our youth to see these great role models and be inspired to continue on in athletics.”

Source: Cold Lake Sun:

The Indigenous NHL Alumni team was in town Sunday night to take on local hockey players from the Cold Lake Arrows in an exhibition game at the Energy Centre.

“We wanted to provide a positive family friendly night,” said Dean Janvier, a Cold Lake First Nations councillor. “We want our youth to see these great role models and be inspired to continue on in athletics.”

Former NHL player John Chabot, who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings over the course of his career, said all of the players on the alumni team are from small Canadian towns.

“We want to give back to the communities we came from,” said Chabot who lived in Cold Lake as a youth because his father was a Canadian Forces member posted to the area.

He said youth from the bigger centres have more opportunity to see NHL players in action.

Chabot said, if he inspires even one youth, his travels across the country playing in alumni games is worth it.

“When you speak to kids, some are only half listening and others are totally interested in what you are saying,” said Chabot who has visited a number of classrooms over the years.

He said the biggest question he is asked by youth is how do they avoid peer pressure that may lead them towards drugs.

“It’s hard to say no,” said Chabot, adding that being active in sports can be an alternative to hanging out with a rougher crowd.

He said many of his alumni teammates came from single parent homes with no money.

“It’s not easy for anyone,” said Chabot.

Former NHLers who were in town for the game Sunday included Reggie Leach, Arron Asham, Denny Lambert, Laurie Boschman, Jean-Sébastien Aubin, Chris Brant, Dan Frawley and Ric Nattress.

People who attended the game were encouraged to bring an item for the food bank.

“The demand goes up at Christmas time for the Food Bank,” said Janvier.

The Cold Lake Arrows had many great years in the 1990, often playing with just seven or eight players and a goalie, while placing in or winning tournaments in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

All of the players are from Cold Lake First Nations.

Currently, the Arrows have 18 active players.