Yukon hockey fans may get the chance to play a little street shinny with a former NHLer and an icon later this month in Whitehorse.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Darcy Tucker and sportscast legend Ron MacLean will be the capital’s special guests as Whitehorse hosts Rogers Hometown Hockey the weekend of Jan. 23 and 24, Rogers Communications announced last week.
For MacLean, who lived in the Whitehorse community of Hillcrest from age four to eight in the mid ‘60s, it’ll be a return to his hockey roots.
“The first real memories of my life (were in Whitehorse),” MacLean told the News in 2011. “Mom and Dad were not sports enthusiasts, they were more into politics and the arts.
“Our neighbour invited me to go play shinny across the street. That’s where it all started - it really did.”
Tucker is most famous for his time on the Leafs from 1999 to 2008, but also played for the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche. Over his 14-season NHL career, Tucker racked up 476 points with 215 goals in 947 games.
Whitehorse is one of 24 stops across Canada the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour is making this season.
The celebration kicks off on Jan. 23 at noon on Front Street (between Wood and Main) with all sorts of activities from pick-up games, skills contests, live entertainment, meet and greets with NHL alumni, and plenty more.
The weekend will wrap up with an outdoor viewing party as the Carolina Hurricanes host the Calgary Flames with a pre-game show hosted by MacLean live in Whitehorse.
More information can be found at www.hometownhockey.com.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com