As part of the Eagle Drilling Estevan Bruins fan appreciation night on Saturday, Hockey Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald and former Saskatchewan Roughrider Dan Rashovich were on hand at the Civic Auditorium to meet the Bruins players and their fans. The two sports icons then spoke at an after-game party at the Days Inn Plaza, which featured free food and drinks for the public.
McDonald said he loves coming back to Estevan, and visiting people who love hockey as much as he does.
"I love watching junior hockey I enjoy having the chance to visit with a whole lot of people and there are a lot of good people in this area," said McDonald who added he never gets tired of signing autographs. "When they quit asking, then I know I'm in trouble so no, I never mind signing autographs and it's fun to be able to have a little bit of fun with the kids."
Before their game against the Klippers, McDonald visited the Bruins dressing room and gave the players a pep talk in which he told them to first and foremost, enjoy the game.
"Love the game, but it's not an individual game, it's a team game and the people that they're playing with - these will be friendships that they'll have for a lifetime," said McDonald. "As long as they play that team game, they can accomplish anything, regardless of how good the other team is and when you have a chance to win a championship, that sends a message to whoever or whatever you do it in life - you're a winner."
Despite enjoying an illustrious NHL career that spanned 18 seasons and a Stanley Cup championship in 1989, McDonald admits that playing junior hockey was the most fun he ever had playing the game.
"Absolutely," he said. "Glen Sather - when I worked at his hockey school years and years ago when I played for the Medicine Hat Tigers - told me enjoy your time in junior hockey, when you play in the pros it's awesome, but junior hockey is by far the best time of your life, and it was."
With so many of McDonald's teammates from that 1989 Calgary Flames team still involved in hockey at the NHL level, whether it be coaching or management, it's no secret why they had such great leadership and success. McDonald said there were about 15 leaders on that team, and they made it very easy for the others to follow.
As for himself, McDonald does work with Hockey Canada, but said coaching at a high level was never something that really interested him.
"I coached junior C hockey in Alberta for five years, won the championship three years, and absolutely loved my time with the young players, but I never really looked at it as something I'd love to do in the pros - that is a huge commitment and I just wasn't prepared to do that," he said.
In three weeks' time, McDonald will be back on the ice with many of his old Flames teammates for the Heritage Classic in Calgary. Like the current members of the Flames and Montreal Canadiens, the alumni of the two hockey clubs will play on the outdoor rink at McMahon Stadium February 20.
"We're going to have so much fun," McDonald said. "We look at it like Montreal won in '86, we won in '89, this might be for bragging rights so we've got to get up for the game. They've got a great lineup and so do we, but more importantly it's about celebrating the game and all money goes to charity so everyone wins."
