Maple Leafs alumni take 11-8 win over Bulldogs alumni at Davidson Centre 50th anniversary game

The Toronto Maple Leafs alumni team showed it still has the cutting edge in hockey, downing the Kincardine Bulldogs alumni, 11-8, at the Davidson Centre 50th anniversary hockey game, Saturday night.

A sold-out crowd packed the arena for the event as the Leafs alumni took to the ice, including:
 

• Goalie Adam Munro, first-round pick of the Chicago Black Hawks
• Mike Krushelnyski, four-time Stanley Cup winner as a player and coach
• Dave McIlwain, two seasons as a Maple Leaf and part of the beloved 1992-93 squad
• Captain Rick Vaive, first Leaf to score 50 goals in a season
• Brad May, played his 1,000th game while wearing a Leaf uniform
• Peter Holland, first-round pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft, and four seasons with the Leafs
• Nathan Perrott, Maple Leaf player turned boxer
• Todd Gill, played 12 seasons as a Leaf – only 18 have played more in the blue-and-white
• Greg Johnston, second-round pick in 1983, played 18 years of pro hockey
• Gary Leeman, 50-goal season with the Leafs and 23rd highest goal-scorer in club history
• Dan Daoust, top-40 in all time in Leafs, in games played and penalty minutes
• Head coach Wendel Clark, first Leaf player drafted No. 1 overall
• Jordan Willis, Leaf for a Day, drafted in 1993 by the Dallas Stars, nine-year pro hockey career
• John Kollias (Johnny K), Leaf for a Day, forged successful sports equipment and merchandise business
• Coach Paul Henderson, played 13 seasons in the NHL, and scored the “Goal of the Century” in the 1972 Summit Series
• Assistant coach Jay Bell of Kincardine

Joining them, were the Bulldogs alumni:
 

• Jason Hamilton
• Jason Reid
• Brian Stanley
• Derek Regier
• Greg Courtney
• Alex MacLeod
• Andrew Kivisaari
• Mark Smith
• Devin Kemp
• Curtis Chaput
• Steve Stepaniak
• Paul Stewart
• Mike Colling
• Captain Mark Wappett
• Dustin Catto
• Kyle Boulton
• Nick Quaid
• Brett Catto
• Jeremy Farrow
• Jeff Alcombrack
• Shawn Stewart
• Cody Britton
• Coaches Paul Catto, Brent Armstrong and Jim Bell
• Training and equipment, Bob Richards, Caden Allingham and Morgan Baker

And the on-ice officials: Steve Grant, Madden Steen and Jeremy Beatty

Following the singing of “O Canada” by Ruby Wreford of Kincardine, the ceremonial puck-drop was done by Keith Davidson, former Kincardine recreation director and long-time community champion, for whom the Davidson Centre is named.

As usual, Davidson had his face painted blue-and-white, was sporting a Maple Leafs hat and jersey, and waving flags for both the Leafs and the Bulldogs, demonstrating his enthusiasm for the game of hockey, the Municipality of Kincardine, and his beloved Davidson Centre. Joining him, for the opening ceremony, were Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, MPP Lisa Thompson and Kincardine mayor Kenneth Craig.

The game went for two 20-minute periods. During the intermission, activities included a shoot-out with the Leafs players, a draw for a Morgan Rielly jersey, and the Kincardine Tykes had a chance to skate with the Leafs alumni team.



The Kincardine Tykes (in orange-and-white sweaters) take on the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni team, during intermission at the Davidson Centre 50th anniversary celebration, Saturday night; video by David Dadson

In the event souvenir program, Craig states that the Davidson Centre is a recreation facility that has served as a gathering place and a centre for celebrations of championships, marriages, birthdays, culture and leisure. It has hosted dances, tournaments of all sorts, and information meetings, and the hallways, corridors and activity rooms have been filled with conversation, debate, laughter and cheers, for five decades.

“The Davidson Centre has become a local landmark, very much like the post office and the hospital,” he states. “Its enduring presence brings a sense of comfort, of familiarity and purpose. When the stress of work, of home, of life, become too great to bear, it is often the Davidson Centre that provides an outlet for pent-up emotions. When the challenge of achieving success looms before us, it is often the Davidson Centre that provides space for hours of practice, honing our skills. And when we are no longer able to utilize all the amenities of the Davidson Centre, we are often invited to watch and celebrate the achievements of others.”

Following the game, the Kincardine Bulldogs hosted a dance to the Adam Cousins Band.