Wendel Clark coming to city

Hockey game will support UPEI Panthers Sport

Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Wendel Clark is coming to Charlottetown next month and he’s bringing some former NHLers with him.

It is part of a fundraising hockey game in support of UPEI Panthers Sport.

“He’s been on the Island before, but he’s never actually played here, so it’s an opportunity to see him and this group,” said Bruce Donaldson, UPEI’s associate director of development and alumni engagement.

The lineup includes Stephane Richer, Ron Duguay, Al Iafrate, Gary Leeman, Denis Maruk, Peter Klima, Ken Linseman, Mike Lalor and goalie Roy Nolan.

They will play against a group of local celebrities, including Panthers hockey captains Sam Sweet and Mason Wilgosh.

Donaldson these types of events are typically very entertaining.

“It becomes very interactive,” he said. “There could be some trading of players throughout the game.”

Clark played 13 of his 15 seasons in the NHL with the Leafs.

The former first overall pick by the Leafs was part of the Mats Sundin trade, which sent Clark to the Quebec Nordiques. He also played for the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lighting, Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. In 793 NHL games, he scored 330 goals, had 234 assists and 1,690 penalty minutes.

The game, which will include three 15-minute periods, will be held Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. at MacLauchlan Arena with all proceeds going to the UPEI Panthers Sport.

Donaldson said the Parkdale Sherwood Lions Club approached them about partnering in the project, with all proceeds going to Panthers Sport.

There are three ticket options. A general admission ticket is $20 while a dressing room pass is $50 (25 per intermission) and a meet and greet post-game event at the rink is $80 (100 tickets). The cost of the dressing room and meet and greet passes includes admission to the game.

Each of the Panthers teams are selling tickets with each team retaining the proceeds of their ticket sales. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.gopanthersgo.ca, by calling 902-5660368 or by emailing bdonaldson@upei.ca.

If tickets remain, they will be available at the door. Donaldson noted with the limited number of dressing room and meet and greet passes, they are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis.