Canadiens Alumni take on the County Kings

Coach Guy Lafleur appears not to notice as player Jocelyn Lemieux plucks a junior County Kings team member from the ice during action near the Montreal Canadiens’ bench Sunday during the Canadiens Alumni, County Kings Elite team game at the Wellington arena. When a player “argued” with Kings coach Ron Norton, he banished the team to the dressing room and requested they be replaced with County novice and atom players for five minutes of action.

Hundreds of fans attended the event which was a fundraiser for the Wellington arena and the Jumpstart sports program.

The Montreal line-up included goalie Richard Sévigny, Gilbert Delorme, Martin Lafleur, Yves Racine, Alain Cote, Sergio Momesso, Dan Daoust, Mathieu Dandenault, Jocelyn Lemieux, Lucien Deblois and Patrice Brisebois. Online auction winners Mac MacGillivray, (forward)  Don Duscharme (defence) and David Shore (assistant coach) were honourary alumni for the day.

The County Kings Elite Team included: Tod Lavender, Justin Lavender, Rick Van Vlack, Mark Allison, Anthony Mann, Mike Howat, Brandon Wannaker, Jim Etamanski, Tim Lloyd, Jonathon Wight, Jay Van Rossum, Jackie Jarrell, Cory Mulridge, John McFarland, Fred Knight, Phil Neary and Paul Farquar. Manager Rick Rose, coach Ron Norton, assistant coach Jim Dunlop, trainer Todd Lamorre and assistant trainer Shane Nieman.

Officials for the game were Scott Lavender, Rob Garden and Chris Galloway.

Chuck-a-puck winners included Lilly Giroux, of Cherry Valley and Sydney Manlow, of Picton. About $700 was raised for the Jumpstart Program which helps families facing financial barriers, to enroll their children in sports and recreation activities. The unclaimed $650 50/50 prize will be donated to Jumpstart.

“A huge thank you to the Wellington Dukes organization for all its support and help,” notes Jennifer Goodman, a member of the organizing committee. “Also a huge thank you to Prince Edward County Minor Hockey for members’ help and contributions. We were very lucky to have the volunteers that we had on hand yesterday. We could not have done it without them and the County facility staff and food and beverage team who did an excellent job in taking care of the Alumni and Kings teams.

“The Montreal Canadiens’ Alumni and Hockey’s Greatest Stars are an exceptional organization to work with and they were very supportive of our event, very complimentary of our staff and facility and said they love our community and hope to come back again some day.”

Though on the ice for just five minutes, the junior elite Kings – Prince Edward County novice and atom players selected by random draw – stole the show.