Truro’s Brine ready for RECC
NHL Alumni game takes place this Friday evening at the RECC
TRURO - One of the best hockey players to ever come out of the Truro area has never played a significant game at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre (RECC). In fact, he hasn’t even skated there, but that is about to change.
“I’ve been to watch a few games at the RECC, watch the (Jr. A) Bearcats, and I’ve brought my kids down to the pool there, but I don’t think I’ve ever been on the ice,” said David Brine who, after spending one season with the Bearcats (2002-03) spent three years as a Halifax Moosehead - captain in his final season - and 13 years playing professionally, including nine games with the NHL’S Florida Panthers in the 2007-08 season.
Brine noted his Bearcats’ season was spent in the friendly confines of the Colchester Legion Stadium, a number of years before the RECC even came into existence.
“Back in the good old days,” he joked from his Halifax home where he has lived for about two years now, following one year in Montreal after retiring from hockey following the 2018-19 season.
Brine will make his RECC debut this Friday as part of the NHL alumni team for the free game at the RECC versus local celebrities. Among the other names local fans will recognize is that of former Canadiens, Maple Leafs and Oilers forward Shayne Corson, noted NHL tough guys Georges
“I was excited when they reached out and explained to me what was going on … it sounds like a great opportunity to get the community out.”
David Brine
Laraque and Andre Roy, three-time Stanley Cup champion (with Detroit) Mathieu Dandenault who finished his NHL days with Montreal, and Newfoundland’s own Terry Ryan who also wore the classic red, white and blue Habs’ uniform.
“They have some pretty cool people like Shayne Corson and Georges Laraque coming into town, so yes, it’s exciting,” said Brine who spent the majority of his playing days overseas. “I was excited when they reached out and explained to me what was going on … it sounds like a great opportunity to get the community out.”
Out and help the RECC celebrate its 10th anniversary. General manager Matt Moore said providing free entertainment, as they did prior to Christmas when Cirque’s Holiday Dream Show came to town, is a way for facility staff to say thank you to the community for supporting them through the difficult COVID days.
“For six or seven months now, we’ve been working on a plan to celebrate the RECC’S 10th anniversary,” Moore said. “We’ve put together a funding application to the federal government for some of the relief and recovery programs for the hardships from the pandemic and we were fortunate to receive funding to allow us to host this NHL Alumni Game and a platform to help celebrate all the great community leadership we had during and beyond the pandemic.
“And aside from the players on the ice, we’re looking forward to welcoming groups who really stood up and supported the RECC throughout the tough times, as well as the community overall, over the course of the pandemic. It’s just a great way to, again, use the sport of hockey to celebrate community.”
Playing against the NHL team will be folks like Cumberland-colchester MP Dr. Stephen Ellis, Truro-bible Hill-millbrook-salmon River MLA David Ritcey, wellknown local photographer Steve Currie who is often capturing great moments at the
RECC, Jr. A Bearcats’ general manager Jamie Barbour who is also well-known for his work with minor hockey in the area, and former local stars Dana Fraser and Sandy Mackenzie who followed up great junior, university and senior hockey days with a few professional seasons of their own.
“During COVID, the ability to still take advantage of what the RECC was able to offer was huge,” said Mackenzie, who scored twice in the championship game as the Truro Senior TSN Bearcats won the Allan Cup national championship in 1998.
“Coaching and attending some hockey games, along with other events and activities the RECC was able to carry on, was appreciated. It helped to create a sense of normalcy,” Mackenzie, a longtime assistant coach with the Truro Major U-15 Bearcats, added, expressing a thank you to RECC staff for their work during the pandemic.