A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
The Boston Bruins Alumni and the Akwesasne Mohawks. Photo by Joe Francis.
Akwesasne flag carriers open the event. Photo by Andy Gardner.
The flag carriers line up with the Akwesasne Mohawks and Boston Bruins alumni for the Canadian and American national anthems. Photo by Andy Gardner.
The Akwesasne Mohawks. Photo by Andy Gardner.
The Boston bench. Photo by Andy Gardner.
John Wensink moves the puck. He played for the Bruins from 1976 to 1980 and was a member of the Cornwall Royals from 1970 to 1973. Photo by Andy Gardner.
Bruce Shoebottom, left, and Mike Krushelnyski clear the puck. Shoebottom played for Boston off and on in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Krushelnyski was a Bruin for the 1981-82 season. Photo by Andy Gardner.
Ray Bourque, a Bruin from 1979 to 2000, holds the record for most goals, assists and overall points for a defenseman. He is a member of the NHL Hall of Fame. Both the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche have retired his jersey number, 77, making him the sixth player in NHL history to have a number retired by more than one team. Photo by Andy Gardner.
An Akwesasne Mohawk tries to move the puck past Reggie Lemelin (1). Although not in the crease, Lemelin was a Boston goaltender from 1987 to 1993. Photo by Andy Gardner.
Former members of the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins and players from around Akwesasne joined forces on Saturday, Dec. 6 to play a benefit game for Akwesasne Minor Hockey, which drew about 500 people to Anowarakowa Arena.
The Boston squad included such greats as Ray Bourque, who to this day holds the NHL record for goals and assists scored by a defenseman. Also on the ice was Terry O'Reilly, who finished his career with 2,095 penalty minutes and a +212, a testament to his skills on defense. He was also known for being an ample shooter.
"We enjoy playing, we're competitive and we know we're making a difference," Bourque said. "Hockey's given us a lot."
Part of the game featured Akwesasne Minor Hockey players taking to the ice for five minutes with the Bruins, and Bourque said he likes seeing kids at such a young age pursuing the sport.
"I can totally relate to kids who look up at you," he said, adding that his career took him from that very youthful admiration to "living the dream."
The NHL Hall-of-Famer says he also partakes in events like these for his own sake.
"Hockey is the kind of sport where even if you slow down, you can still play ... still go out and have fun, still compete," he said.
Boston won the match, outscoring their Akwesasne opponents in two of three periods. Bourque tapped in the final goal of the game with 33 seconds on the clock, after taking a pass from Tom Fergus. The two were teammates from 1981 to 1985.
Before the teams took to the ice, Akwesasne youth flag carriers put on a show with Bruins and Haudenosaunee flags on hockey sticks. They included Chanel Thompson, Drey Thompson, Rylan Adams, Dash Adams, Jett Jock, Carey Terrance, Tysen Sunday, Emma Ransom, Autum Benedict, Treytin Sunday, Carter Jackson, Cameron King, Kara White and Taeys Benedict Phillips.
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Grand Chief Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell performed the honorary first puck drop.
Akwesasne Minor Hockey League President Toby Sunday, who suited up and skated with the Akwesasne Mohawks, said he was thrilled to see his players able to share the ice with NHL greats.
"Seeing these little kids play against the Bruins, seeing them skate, it's something they'll remember their entire lives," Sunday said.
He said he was grateful to the large volunteer contingent working behind the scenes to pull off the event.
"It's priceless ... for them to set up and help. It's really important," according to Sunday.
Several members of the Swamp family were on-hand, who are dedicated Boston Bruins fans. They included Lawrence, Dyan, Kaia and Kania Swamp and family friend Joli Gibson.
"It's awesome," said Kaia Swamp, age 8.
"We saw them when they were in (the NHL) and it's exciting to be seeing them here," Lawrence Swamp said.
"When Boston is up in Ottawa, we go to see them," Dyan Swamp said.
Alumni Hockey Line-up
AKWESASNE MOHAWKS
77 Steve Thomas
66 Josh Jacobs
27 Adam Thompson
7 DeCota Thompson
16 Toby Sunday
22 Casey Swamp
20 Randy Conners
9 Nathan Sunday
18 Ian Mitchell
44 Mark Thomas
12 Scott Thompson
10 Dan Garrow
11 Roddy McKenzie
88 Carey Terrance
19 Owen Swamp
Coaches: Mac Thomas
Tyler Sunday
BOSTON BRUINS ALUMNI
24 Terry O'Reilly
16 Rick Middleton
13 Ken Linseman
1 Reggie Lemelin
43 Al Iafrate
20 Bob Sweeney
28 Tom Fergus
18 John Wensink
42 Tim Sweeney
40 Bruce Shoebottom
32 Bruce Crowder
25 Mike Krushelnyski
21 Frank Simonetti
13 "Ace" Loran
Coaches:
Brian Goodleaf
Charlotte McDonald
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