Press Release
Brandon, MB. – One of the most productive offensive performers in National Hockey League history will headline the list of speakers for the 2013 Wheat Kings’ CKLQ Sportsman’s Dinner, to be held on Thursday, February 7th in the Keystone Centre’s UCT Pavillion.
A naturally gifted goal scorer and playmaker, center Marcel Dionne
was a junior superstar with the St. Catherines Black Hawks of the OHA.
In three seasons, he scored 375 points and helped the Hawks reach the
Memorial Cup finals in 1971.
The
second player chosen in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft – behind only Guy
Lafleur of the Montreal Canadiens – Dionne became an instant hit in
Detroit. Besides scoring 77 points to lead the Wings in scoring as a
rookie in ’71-72, he earned an invitation to Team Canada for the 1972
Summit Series against the USSR.
After
four productive years in Detroit, a contract dispute in 1975 with
management led to a trade between the Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings.
It was on the west coast, during the prime of his career, that Dionne
established himself as one of the league’s premier players. During his
twelve years with the Kings, he topped the 100-point mark seven times,
was a two-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson
Award and was selected to the NHL First and Second All Star Teams twice
each. In 1980, he was declared winner of the Art Ross Trophy after he
tied rookie Wayne Gretzky with 137 points to share the league scoring
title.
During the early eighties, Dionne established a number of personal milestones, including his 500th goal and 1,000th NHL point.
A
member of the New York Rangers in 1987-88, the Drummondville, Quebec
product retired after 37 games in ’88-89 with 731 goals and 1,771
points. At the time of his retirement, those totals placed him third on
the NHL all time scoring list behind only Gretzky and Gordie Howe.
The popular Dionne was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.
Needless to say, the Wheat Kings and CKLQ general manager Cam Clark couldn’t be happier with this year’s lineup.
“We
are very excited about this year’s CKLQ Sportsman’s Dinner” says Clark.
“With such a strong and dominant former NHL star such as Marcel Dionne
to be on hand, along with a quality comedian, and knowledgeable MC in
Dennis Beyak, it promises to be a great evening. Everyone at CKLQ is
looking forward to this great event to support Wheat king players in
their academic endeavors following their time with the team.”
Joining Dionne at the 2013 event, which is held annually to raise money for the Wheat Kings’ Scholarship Foundation, will be comedian Tim Nutt as well as the play-by-play voice of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets – Dennis Beyak.
A
native of Winnipegosis, Beyak joined TSN in the summer of 2011 and
provides the play by play for the Jets’ regional games on the newly
created digital channel, TSN Jets, and on TSN 1290 Radio in Winnipeg.
Beyak
began his broadcasting career doing play by play for the Flin Flon
Bombers of the WCHL, before joining the likes of the Western Hockey
League’s Saskatoon Blades, Victoria Cougars and Seattle Thunderbirds
before moving on to the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs.
In
addition to radio, Dennis has called the IIHF World Hockey
Championships on TSN and has worked as a hockey analyst on The Score.
No
stranger to the WHL, Beyak’s 41-year career in sports has also included
stints outside of the broadcast booth, serving as the assistant general
manager of the WHL Blades from 1981-90, GM of the T-Birds from 1992-94
and Tri-City Americans in 1994-95. He also served as chairman of the
Memorial Cup in Saskatoon (1989) and Seattle (1992) and was named the
league’s Executive of the Year in 1989.
Direct
from Vancouver, Nutt pushes comedy to explosive new levels and
dimensions. He expertly explores the hilarity in everday life. Tim is
rough and tumble and manic and combines one-liners and crafty
storytelling with a smooth familiarity.
A
favorite on stages from coast to coast, this 12-year comedy veteran has
brought his unique style to radio and television and he is quite proud
of his “Comedy Now” special for CTV and The Comedy Network. As well, he
is a regular at both the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and the Just for
Laughs Festival in Montreal.
Tickets to this year’s event are $100 each and can be ordered by calling the Wheat Kings at 726-3535.
In
addition to a great evening of stories and laughs, a number of items
will be up for grabs in both the Live and Silent Auctions including
autographed jerseys from former Wheat Kings Jordin Tootoo of the Detroit Red Wings, Philadephia Flyers’ center Brayden Schenn and right-winger Mark Stone, who is currently skating with the Ottawa Senators’ American League affiliate in Binghampton, New York.
Former speakers at the Sportsman’s Dinner have included the likes of Lanny
McDonald, Dennis Hull, Brad Park, Phil Esposito, Mike Bossy, Ray
Ferraro, Wendel Clark, John Ferguson, Terry O’Reilly, Ron McLean and Don Cherry. Among the many comedians to take the stage at the Keystone Centre include Big Daddy Tazz, Derek Edwards, Mike MacDonald, Gord Paynter, Bruce Clark, Ron James and Corner Gas star Brent Butt.
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
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