NHL STARS, ALUMN AND FULL HOUSE OF FANS SCORE BIG FOR UNITED WAY AND SMMHF TONIGHT
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
BRACEBRIDGE — Summer hockey scored big for local charities tonight.
The stars came out and showed their support for the United Way and South Muskoka Hospital Foundation raising far north of $50,000 to split between the two.
Fans of all ages and vintages joined the players with the same look as team captains Kris King and Mayor Rick Maloney who were coaching the blue team and fellow former Maple Leaf captain and Boston Pizza owner Jim Treliving who were behind the white Team Boston Pizza bench.
King said it reminded him of his old celebrity hockey cruises he and his late dad, Dave, ran. They sold out Hockey Night in Muskoka at 10 o’clock this morning.
“Good to have some of the old Leafs crew together again. A lot of the NHL guys are up here in summer and they use the hospital. They help whenever they can. It was perfect timing as we’ve wanted to do this for a long time.
“Clarky and I are too old and slow to play,” he joked, noting his years “taking on bigger guys” has come back to haunt him and sidelined him for four months with disc problems.
But King’s still on the job, “my 25th year with the league office.
He said the NHL had a “hell of a year top to bottom. The playoffs were fantastic. And this season is going to be interesting with the Olympics and two weeks off. And we have two outdoor games in Florida,” which King runs.
“It’s all about the charities. It’s exciting. It’s been great. I’m quite pleased” he said at the Ball Hockey Experience in the parking lot beforehand.
Still he can’t forget his playing career that saw him captain the Winnipeg Jets as he signed Leafs jerseys.
“The Leaf years were pretty good.”
Clark, too, was busy signing and posing for pictures pre-game.
“Kris and I are the oldtimers. We do a lot talking, not much action.
“This was a great kickoff of many (charity games) to come.”
He says this is one of 100 such events he does working on behalf of the Leafs each year.
As for the Leafs: “I like the team. I think everything’s been good. We got a pretty good group.”
TSN analyst and fellow Leaf Mike Johnson said he’s looking forward to another year ahead “with constant change, which he thinks is good.”
Treliving added he “loves Muskoka” and has fixed up his restaurants in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge.
As for the Leafs and his GM son Brad Treliving: “I think he’s got a good team. They’ve got it covered. They’re going to miss Mitch Marner’s point, but I think we need somebody strong. And he feels the same way about the playoff point. We’re one point away from the finals.”
The Lake of Bays cottager, who says he didn’t know about Muskoka till 30 years ago, says he’s gave up the Dragon’s Den TV show four years ago and has done a couple of others since, including the Big Decision.
On the topic of tariffs, Treliving says they’re “crazy.
“The biggest thing Trump did for us is give us a kick in the bum. Watch what we can do. As Canadians I’m proud of what we’re seeing and he’s doing. I feel this country will change completely. They’ll be happy to give us back.”
And what does one of Canada’s top business titans think of Prime Minister Mark Carney?
“I think he’s doing a job that should have been done a long time ago. He’s made all these announcements. Let’s get it done.
“If he gets it done I like him.”
Treliving says his son doesn’t think his dad will go on in coaching beyond this game.
Well, early in the game his team not only led the scoring, but he and they showed they know how to raise money for a good cause.
The fans and players loved it and showed their support.
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