By Sean Allen
Brant News
June 1, 2014
The appeal of Walter Gretzky is enough to draw street hockey players from all across Canada and the northern U.S. to Brantford for the annual tournament held in his name.
And to find out why one only had to watch as “Canada’s Hockey Dad” held court surrounded by dozens of View Askew Street Hockey League players moments before the official ball drop at the eighth annual Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament on Saturday at Lions Park.
The Great One’s dad had the VASHL players in stitches – telling jokes to the throng of players from Philadelphia, Chicago and all over Ontario that had gathered around.
“What do the Toronto Maple Leafs and my lawnmower have in common?” Gretzky asked. “They both spend the winter in the basement.”
The VASHL contingent is the largest at the annual street hockey tournament in support of the Lung Association. Eight teams from the league that was formed by fans of actor-director Kevin Smith made the journey to Brantford this season.
Even though it’s been four years since Smith personally took part in the tournament, the VASHL players remain committed to the annual event.
While the journey across the border to play in Brantford began as a chance to rub elbows – literally in some cases on the forecheck – with Smith, VASHL commissioner Darryl Clarke says its about a lot more than a chance encounter with their favourite filmmaker.
“This is a chance for the friends that make up our league to all get together,” he said. “Some of us only see each other this one time a year in Brantford.”
Clarke, who lives in Illinois, said the VASHL league has players from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and New Jersey playing in Brantford this season.
The league was established in 2009 when Smith committed to come to Brantford to play in the tournament for a chance to meet Walter Gretzky.
The View Askew Vulgarians, Puck U, Leonardo Reapers and Monroeville Zombies were the first four entries – backed by Smith – that formed the league.
Other teams continue to join, even after Smith last made an appearance at the Brantford tournament in 2010.
“In fact, there was a team put together strictly from Brantford folks that wanted to be a part of VASHL just two weeks before this tournament,” Clarke said. “One of the players was involved in another tournament we played in and just liked the way we kept things friendly – no hacking and not overly aggressive.”
Lung Association fund development co-ordinator and tournament organizer Sandy Lee said 135 teams signed up for the event with more than 1,500 players roaming around the dozen rinks at Lions Park.
The tournament is a key fundraiser for the Lung Association – as evidenced by a $5,000 cheque that was handed over by Scotiabank during the ball drop ceremony on Saturday.
In his official remarks during the ball drop, Walter reminded those in attendance from the U.S. that they were in the “centre of the universe” and he said he wanted to see them all back next year.
via brantnews.com
