TSN personalities get back to their roots
MCLENNAN, STANISZEWSKI AND BEIRNESS HIGHLIGHT CANES CELEBRITY DINNER
Atrio of TV personalities were the top line for the Lethbridge Hurricanes Saturday night.
TSN SportsCentre hosts Natasha Staniszewski and Kate Beirness, as well as Jamie McLennan, a former Canes’ goaltender and current TSN hockey analyst, were the three special guests during the Lethbridge Hurricanes’ 12th Annual Celebrity Sports Dinner, held Saturday night at the Coast Hotel and Conference Centre.
McLennan, affectionately nicknamed Noodles, played parts of three seasons with the Hurricanes from 1989 to 1991 and was a part of the 1990 and 1991 WHL Final appearances. He said it was “very exciting” to return.
“I have a history with the city,” said McLennan, who played 254 NHL games with six different teams.
“The minute I get off the plane in Alberta, I’m excited, especially coming home to Lethbridge. And I call it home because I lived here when I was younger, moved away, then came back and played with the Hurricanes. I have friends here; I consider second family here, so I have deep roots with the city of Lethbridge.”
Staniszewski, who hails from Edmonton, joined TSN in 2009 and has hosted SportsCentre since 2011.
“I was really excited. Everybody is so awesome and friendly. It will be fun for the three of us to be up there,” she said ahead of the dinner.
“I know (Hurricanes general manager) Peter Anholt from my first sports job in Prince Albert; he was coach of the Raiders there. I loved covering junior hockey, it was great. It’s obviously so important to keep the talent going and support the players. And any chance to come back to Alberta, I jump at it.”
Beirness also began with TSN in 2009 and has hosted SportsCentre since 2013.
“I think the coolest thing is being able to come out west and getting out of the studio,” she said.
“Natasha and I work very late hours and when opportunities come like this, when you get to come and support a team that obviously has a very strong fan base, I think it’s just awesome. We are more than happy to be here and get out and meet people who watch SportsCentre on a daily basis. We do care about hockey at this level and the grassroots of it in this country. I’ve been to a WHL game and it was fantastic.”
Following the dinner, local personality Tony Deys hosted a hot-stove-style sitdown with the celebrity guests.
The night also included a silent and live auction. During the live auction, part of Beirness’ hair extension was sold.
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