ESTEVAN - A popular event will be making its return to Estevan next month.
The Estevan Bruins have announced details for a sportsman’s dinner that will be taking place on May 26 at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. Cocktails will start at 5:30 p.m. and supper is at 6:30 p.m. The dinner will happen in conjunction with the 2022 Centennial Cup national junior A hockey championship, sponsored by Tim Hortons.
Two former Estevan Bruins, Joe Watson and Mike Butters, will be among the guest speakers. Watson is one of the most successful players to ever be part of the Bruins. After spending three seasons with the Black and Gold, he started his NHL career with the Boston Bruins in the 1960s.
He was one of the first players drafted during the NHL Expansion Draft in 1967 for the Philadelphia Flyers. Watson won back-to-back Stanley Cups for the Flyers in 1974 and 1975.
His younger brother Jim was on the Flyers for the dynast years. Both became known for their strong defensive play. At the time, Joe and Jim were only the fourth “brother” combination in the league to win the Stanley Cup.
The other former Bruin appearing is Mike Butters. After playing junior hockey, including time with the Bruins, he embarked on a nine-year professional hockey career that saw him play for a number of teams.
He then coached at the junior, professional and international levels, and has served USA Hockey in a number of capacities.
Butters has also worked as a film, television and stage actor, voice-over artist, comedian, improvisational comic, impressionist, musician and mime. He is perhaps best-known for his portrayal of Paul Leahy in the Saw horror franchise.
Also speaking will be Craig Button, a long-time NHL executive and broadcaster. He was the Dallas Stars’ director of player personnel when that organization won the Stanley Cup in 1999, and from 2000-03, Button served as vice-president and general manager of the Calgary Flames, and helped build the team that eventually came within one game of winning the Stanley Cup in 2004.
He currently works as a hockey analyst for TSN.
The other speaker appearing is Rod Pederson, who is no stranger to local fans. He has been the MC for a number of banquets in Estevan over the years. He was also the play by play voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and now hosts The Rod Pederson Show.
The Bruins say they will be a large list of silent auction items as well as six live auction items, including a Nashville Predators jersey signed by Oxbow’s Tanner Jeannot, a jersey courtesy of Estevan’s Cole Fonstad, multiple vacation getaways, Bruins’ season ticket packages, and a Bruins’ jersey signed by all players in the 2022 Centennial Cup.
Tickets are available by contacting the Bruins’ office. They are $800 for a table of eight or $100 for a single ticket, plus GST.
