Over 400 people attended the Hockey Gone Wild event January 3rd in Rockland when the Ottawa Gee Gees men’s hockey team hosted the Lake Superior State Lakers, a touring NCAA team. While the organization of the event was first rate, the product on the ice was less so, as the visiting Lakers pummelled their hosts 11-1.
“The result wasn't what we had expected or what we would have liked it to be, but that's the way it is,” said Gee Gees forward Sean Smyth, a Clarence Creek native who was playing in front of friends and family from Rockland.
The Lakers opened the scoring just over a minute into the game, but the Gee Gees fought back to tie the game three minutes later. That was as close as Ottawa got, as the Lakers pumped in six more goals for a commanding 7-1 lead by the end of the first period. After a 35 minute delay caused by a Zamboni breakdown, the Lakers added another goal in the second period and three more in the third to complete the romp.
“Other than the score, everything went according to the script,” said Brian Faber, chair of the organizing committee for the event.
Brian’s team, which included Mario Galipeau, Wayne Golberg and team representatives Sylvie St-Pierre, Claudia Tondreau, Carol Giroux and Paul Forgues, took care of securing the ice, making arrangements for off-ice officials and a PA announcer, selling 50/50 tickets, soliciting donations for the silent auction, and countless other tasks that went in to ensuring the event was a success.
The afternoon also featured information sessions on AAA and NCAA hockey. Reebok, Lacroix Sports and the Canadian International Hockey Academy, which will open up in Rockland in the Fall, also provided support for the event, which included a silent auction and a display of Initiation level hockey by teams in Rockland, Russell and Embrun. The Minor Midget Wild closed out the day with a 2-0 win over the Ottawa Valley Titans.
A special thanks and congratulations to Brian and his team for all their hard work.
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