{"id":3707,"date":"2017-06-05T08:25:29","date_gmt":"2017-06-05T13:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vashl.com\/web\/?p=3707"},"modified":"2018-04-20T09:50:17","modified_gmt":"2018-04-20T14:50:17","slug":"kevin-smith-returns-to-brantford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/vashl.com\/web\/2017\/06\/kevin-smith-returns-to-brantford\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Smith returns to Brantford"},"content":{"rendered":"

Calls Walter Gretzky \u2018God\u2019s own representative on Earth\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

by Tamara Botting
\nBrant News<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Walter Gretzky is beloved by many, including filmmaker Kevin Smith.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe\u2019s God\u2019s own representative on Earth, with all of his charity work,\u201d Smith said on Sunday afternoon when he came to the Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament.<\/p>\n

When Smith found out about the tournament in 2009, he decided that he wanted to take part, even though it had been \u201c12 to 15 years since the last time I\u2019d played.\u201d<\/p>\n

He put the word out to his fans and got enough response to form four teams. He founded View Askew Street Hockey League and came out to play. It was more taxing than he expected; the night after his first day back to the sport, \u201cI threw up.\u201d<\/p>\n

That didn\u2019t stop Smith, though; the next year, he reached out to as many people as he could to beef up attendance numbers, with his eyes on the prize of an official Guinness World Record for the largest street hockey tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat record belonged to Walter. His kid had won enough awards,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

Getting the world record is an accomplishment Smith is still very proud of.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still have (the certificate) in my house on the wall,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Before this year, Smith hadn\u2019t been able to come out to the tournament since 2010. His league of fans carries on enthusiastically, though, under the guidance of commissioner Darryl Clarke and with Smith\u2019s encouragement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever\u2019s close to Walter\u2019s heart is close to mine,\u201d Smith said, adding his praise for Clarke\u2019s ongoing dedication.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful, when you can start something and others pick it up and finish it for you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Smith was happy for a chance to return to Brantford, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s such a beautiful town. Legends were born here. It\u2019s a town mired in Canadian history.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Via Brant News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Calls Walter Gretzky \u2018God\u2019s own representative on Earth\u2019 by Tamara Botting Brant News Walter Gretzky is beloved by many, including filmmaker Kevin Smith. \u201cHe\u2019s God\u2019s own representative on Earth, with all of his charity work,\u201d Smith said on Sunday afternoon when he came to the Walter Gretzky Street Hockey Tournament. When Smith found out about … <\/p>\n

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