Carbonneau, Gingras to help provide opposition for team made up of RCMP and RNC officers
A pair of former Montreal Canadiens, including threetime Stanley Cup winner and former Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau, will bolster the Newfoundland Celebrity All-Stars’ lineup when they take on a team of police officers in the Newfoundland and Labrador Police Curling Association’s 18th annual benefit hockey game 7:30 Thursday night at Mile One Centre in St. John’s.
Joining Carbonneau on the Newfoundland Celebrity squad is former Montreal and Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Gaston Gingras, who won a Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1996.
Carbonneau is a former Canadiens’ captain who won three Frank Selke Trophies as the NHL’s best defensive forward. Following his playing days, which finished up with a Stanley Cup championship in Dallas, Carbonneau joined the Stars’ front office and coached the Canadiens for three seasons.
During his time in the NHL, Gingras was known to have one of the league’s hardest shots. He was part of the famed Birmingham ‘Baby Bulls’ lineup in the old WHA, joining young, future NHLers Michel Goulet, Rick Vaive, Rob Ramage and Craig Hartsburg.
Gingras appeared in 528 career NHL games, registering 259 points.
Since its inception, more than $178,000 has been donated to children charities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador as a result of these annual games. This year, $2,500 each will be donated to the Newfoundland Lion Quest school program, Newfoundland Autism Society and the Newfoundland Tourette Syndrome Foundation.
Additional proceeds raised will be used to cover the cost of the province’s police curling team representing Newfoundland at the Canadian police curling championships.
Among those suiting up for the Newfoundland Celebrity All-Stars, who will take on a team comprised of members of the RCMP and Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, are Mark O’Brien of Republic of Doyle, CBC’s Ryan Snodden and Jonathan Crowe, Fred Hutton of NTV, K-Rock’s Chris Batstone and former Canadiens draft pick Terry Ryan.
For ticket information, call 1-800-215-8987.