Many well-known NHL alumni and voices will make their way to B.C.’s capital city this month.
A variety of family-friendly events are taking place for Hockey Day in Canada in Victoria from Jan. 17 to 20.
“Hockey Day in Canada will bring vibrancy to downtown, feature activities that will bring all members of the community together and show the entire nation that Victoria is a fantastic place to live, visit, work and play,” said John Wilson, chair of the Victoria Hockey Legacy Society, at an announcement in June 2023 that Victoria would host the event.
Ship Point will host hockey for all community rink clinics every day of the event, and snipers will get the chance to shoot at targets in the fan zone from Jan. 17 to 20.
Attendees will be able to see the Stanley Cup and NHL alumni and a hot stove hosted by broadcaster Ron MacLean at the event’s gala on Jan. 18 at the Victoria Conference Centre.
The Celebrity and Alumni Classic will take over the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre starting at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 19. The lineup of popular voices and former hockey stars includes MacLean, Kevin Bieksa, Elliotte Friedman, Wendel Clark, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Lanny McDonald, Darcy Tucker, Kirk McLean, Nathan Lafayette, Fin, Brian Burke and Greg Adams.
Victoria’s Inner Harbour will feature autograph signings, music, food trucks, a pancake breakfast and another appearance from the Stanley Cup on Jan. 20.
The Victoria Royals will take on the Kamloops Blazers at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Jan. 20 at 4:05 p.m.
Joel Darling, Sportsnet’s executive producer of NHL special events, said Hockey Day in Canada will highlight the region’s hockey history – like the Victoria Cougars winning the Stanley Cup around a century ago or the contribution to the game of the Patrick family, who built the first artificial ice rinks in Canada.
Fundraising from the event will benefit the Courtnall Society for Mental Health.
“This is a great opportunity to bring a spotlight onto mental health. Sports have an important role to play in our physical and mental well-being,” said Lana Popham, minister of tourism, arts, culture and tourism.
A detailed schedule of Hockey Day in Canada can be found at victoriahockeyday.ca/events.
– With files from Jake Romphf
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