Norwood hockey, figure skating milestone
50th anniversary celebrations include Boston Bruins Alumni facing Norwood Alumni in charity game Dec. 1
NORWOOD — Hockey legends
Ray Bourque, Bobby Hull and figure skating champion Kurt Browning will help Norwood celebrate two special anniversaries.
Norwood minor hockey and the Norwood and District Figure Skating Club are celebrating their 50th anniversaries with four days of festivities Nov. 29 to Dec. 2.
“We hope people will come out and support us,” said reunion weekend organizer Greg Hartwick.
Highlights will include Bourque leading the Boston Bruins Alumni in a charity hockey game against Norwood Alumni at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre.
Other Bruins alumni confirmed include Ken Linesman, Al Iafrette, Bob Sweeney, Andrew Raycroft with more names to be added.
Proceeds will go to a fund to assist with registration costs for Norwood minor sports programs to families with financial need.
A raffle and silent auction will be part of the event with the top raffle prize a trip for two to Boston to take in a Bruins game in 2019 in the Bruins Alumni Suite with flight and accommodation included. Value of the package is estimated at $1,500, said Hartwick.
Hull will be guest speaker at a luncheon at the Norwood Town Hall from 1 to 3 p.m. on Dec. 1. The cost is $20.
Browning and former U.S. national champion Alissa Czisny will be the guests of honour at a brunch on Dec. 2 at the Norwood Legion from 10 a.m. to noon. The cost is $15 and Browning will speak at the brunch.
They will then take to the ice at the ANCC from 1:30 to 4 p.m. for a figure skating clinic and demonstration with local skaters.
Hartwick said they will also do a fun battle of the blades type of event where minor hockey players will team up with figure skat- ers for short routines.
While minor hockey and figure skating existed prior to 1968 that was the year both the minor hockey and figure skating organizations were created.
Since then more than 2,000 players and 600 teams have represented Norwood minor hockey.
Fittingly, the festivities will kick off on Nov. 29 with the Norwood Hornets midget and peewee teams playing in a doubleheader at the ANCC starting at 7 p.m.
There will be more minor hockey Friday night and through the day on Saturday.
There will be games for Norwood alumni at 9 p.m. Friday and 4 and 5 p.m. Saturday. As many as 26 alumni have committed from two of Norwood’s 19 OMHA championship teams — the 198687 bantams and 1995-96 juveniles.
There will be free public skating as well from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 9-10 a.m. on Dec. 2.
“There are people who have played in our organizations who have never been to our new rink,” Hartwick said. “They’re welcome to come and go for a skate.”
An exhibit of memorabilia will also be set up in the ANCC hall.
Hartwick said the generosity of eight major sponsors has helped keep costs to a minimum. Sponsors include J.J. Stewart Motors, Norwood Lions, Norwood Legion, Tim Klompmaker and Family, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Contrans Tank Group, Archer Bulk Carriers and Drain Brothers Excavating.
“We’ve been very lucky with sponsors,” Hartwick said. “We wanted to try to keep the cost as low as possible for everyone so families could come.”
Tickets can be bought for individual events or a weekend pass can be purchased for $30 that gives access to all events at the arena. Tickets to the Bruins Alumni Game are $25 for limited reserved seats or $20 for general admission.
Tickets for all events can be purchased through Hartwick at ghartwick@nexicom.net or by calling the arena at 705-639-2342. Tickets will also be available at the door.
All current minor hockey players and figure skaters will be given wrist bands for free admission to the arena all weekend.