The Bryan Trottier Legendary Hockey Heroes Weekend brought together National Hockey League greats and hockey superfans for a special two-day alum event at Selkirk Recreation Complex on Thursday and Friday.
On Thursday, fans in attendance got to meet former NHL stars Bryan Trottier, Marcel Dionne, Bernie Nichols, and many more during a gala dinner presented by the Manitoba Metis Federation and the Selkirk Steelers. The dinner included lively roundtable discussions about the players’ NHL careers.
Then, on Friday, the players and some fans took to the ice for a friendly alum game.
For some, it was the first time they had touched the ice in years, while for others, like Trottier, it was yet another special alumni game with old teammates and friends from his NHL days, when he won Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders in the 1980s.
In the game, the NHL Legends team came out on top 19-14 over the Selkirk Steelers alum team, with fans sprinkled in on both teams throughout the game.
One of those fans was 81-year-old Don Buchko of Arborg, who was playing in his fourth alumni game of this type. He had also played a decade ago in Montreal Canadiens alumni games when they came to Brandon and Arborg.
On Friday, Buchko had the opportunity to play hockey and the guitar as he joined the NHL Legends room to play a few country classics before and after taking to the ice.
“I had the time of my life,” said Buchko following the event. “The best part was the NHLers and coaching staff treated me like royalty. It was the most eventful event I’ve ever had.”
Buchko grew up playing hockey but never had the chance to play competitively, aside from the men’s league, which he currently still plays in Arborg.
Following the event, he said he had the opportunity to feel like an NHLer for the day, and it was a moment he wouldn’t forget.
He also had the chance to take a penalty shot and scored on his attempt.
“For some reason, I was treated like royalty,” said Buchko. “The fans wanted pictures of me, so I took my helmet off and took pictures. Every time I skated by, they wanted to talk, and they were really great to me. Then they wanted me to do a penalty shot which I scored. These were all great moments and I can’t understand why I achieved so much attention. It was almost like a miracle or a dream come true playing hockey.”
Another memorable moment on Friday was when Dennis and Cody Waterman, the father-son duo, played in the game together.
Cody, the son who co-owns Keystone Source for Sports in Selkirk, is a corporate sponsor of the Steelers, which opened the door for him and Dennis, the father and former co-owner of Keystone Source for Sports, to play in the game.
The two also got to hang out with the NHLers in the dressing room before and after the game.
Dennis said sharing the moment with his son is something he’ll never forget.
“It was a phenomenal feeling and brought back so many memories and sharing it all with my son was something I’ll always remember,” said Dennis. “That brought back many memories of playing hockey myself in the community. To see the community brought together with that type of game was fantastic. I’d like to congratulate Jordan Fillion and the members of the Steelers, it was a great success.”
