The Grand Manan Community Centre ice rink will be packed with hockey fans on Friday, January 20, for a game that evening between the NHL Legends and a group of local hockey players. Rob MacPherson, chief administrative officer for the Village of Grand Manan, says former Boston Bruins Terry O'Reilly and Rick Middleton as well as former New York Ranger Kenny Linseman will be among the former National Hockey League players taking to the ice at 6 p.m.
     "They're going to be in St. Stephen, too," reports MacPherson. "That's usually the smallest venue that they play in, but they'll be coming here on Friday and visiting the school. Then they'll have a hockey clinic that afternoon before they play the locals."
     The 12-member team of local players is being joined by special guests Rick Doucet, MLA Charlotte-The Isles, and former New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham. Three Grand Manan players will be members of the NHL Legends team.
     "It's going to be a good time. It's been many years since I've skated, so maybe I'll just skate down the ice and come back, but at least I'll lace up," chuckles Doucet. "I want to stay clear from the boards and the penalty box."
     "The community center is quite an addition for Grand Manan," he adds.
In addition to 60-year-old O'Reilly, 58-year-old Middleton and 53-year-old Linseman, the former NHL players include Ron Duguay, Glenn Anderson, André Dupont, Gilbert Dionne and Todd Bairn. "I'm a fan of them all," says Doucet. "I was humbled when I got asked to participate."
     "There's quite a little buzz here," says MacPherson. "Tickets are moving pretty good. The capacity of the arena is not definite, but the unheated area can handle 400." The money raised from the game will support the Grand Manan Hockey Association.
     MacPherson had contacted Mars Canada Inc. officials about an official dedication of the new 1,600-square-foot mezzanine during the NHL Legends visit, but he had no confirmation from the company as of January 11. Mars Canada Inc. and Hockey Canada paid for the construction of a new heated mezzanine at the Grand Manan ice rink last fall and shot a commercial about the project that will be airing in late January.
     "In addition to the Mars commercial, they have shot a three- or five-minute documentary on Grand Manan that will be going on YouTube," says MacPherson.
      Hockey Canada was responsible for identifying small communities across the country that not only exemplified passion for their community and the sport of hockey, but that had a hockey-related community project that needed assistance to be completed. Megan Johnson, senior consultant for the candy company, explains, "We were interested in a big project that would make the hockey experience more enjoyable, and a heated mezzanine was on Grand Manan's wish list. It's very cold in the rink, so it's difficult to watch the hockey games."
     "The decision was a very difficult one to make, but the story of Grand Manan's local heroes and its passion for the game is one that the Mars brand team was very excited to share," notes Johnson.
After officially opening in January 2011, the Grand Manan Community Centre ice rink last year saw an average of 1,500 visits per week by people who enjoy skating there.