By Darren Friesen /
After 75 years of producing great hockey talent, the Ontario Minor Hockey Association decided it was time to see which players had the most impact, both on and off the ice.
In a web-based survey, fans voted on who should crack the lineup for the OMHA All-Time Great Team.
After the many votes were counted, it came as no surprise that Brantford’s own, Wayne Gretzky, was chosen.
Joining the forward trio was former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Doug Gilmour and Syl Apps. On the blueline, Boston Bruins great Bobby Orr was a shoo-in as was San Jose stalwart Rob Blake, who was the only player picked who still plays in the NHL.
In between the pipes, Curtis Joseph got the nod and the bench boss for this All-Time squad was to be the late Roger Neilson. Jim Rutherford of the Carolina Hurricanes was given the executive reins and officials Ray Scapinello, Kerry Fraser, and Bill McCreary got chosen also.
In a special tribute to these players, the OMHA has partnered with the NHL, NHLPA, and Alumni in this project and a banner depicting each individual team member, will be presented and hung in his respective hometown arena.
The Sarnia Sting and the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre have announced that the Official Banner Raising Ceremony for Kerry Fraser will take place prior to the Sting’s home opener on Friday, Sept. 18.
According to the OMHA, as part of the All-Time Team celebration, the organization will be donating five complete sets of hockey equipment in Kerry’s name to five Minor hockey players from the Sarnia area that have the desire to play hockey but do not have the financial means to play.
RUTHERFORD ALSO GIVEN KUDOS
Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager, Jim Rutherford, was also honoured for the distinction of being named to the OMHA All-Time Great Team.
A Beeton, Ont.-native, Rutherford was on hand to see his banner raised on Aug. 8 at the Beeton Arena, the site of his minor hockey playing days.
“This is a very important recognition because when you grow up and you move on from your home, it’s so important to remember where you came from,” said the 60-year-old Rutherford to the King Township Sentinel newspaper. “When I grew up in Beeton, there was [a population of] 700 people and we didn’t get the same exposure. We were doing things against the odds.”
The former goaltender was drafted 10th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft. In total, Rutherford played 13 seasons in the NHL for the Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings, compiling a 151-227-59 [win-loss-tie] career record with 14 shutouts and a 3.65 goals against average.
Rutherford has been the president and general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes and, before that, the Hartford Whalers, for the past 15 season. He has twice been named the Executive of the year by the Hockey News and he captured his first Stanley Cup in 2006.
|