The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Russell intends to be the hockey capital of Manitoba, and perhaps even Western Canada, this July. Dubbed 'Russell's Summer Hockey Holiday', members of the local business community, together with other volunteers, have organized a three-week program beginning July 9 that involves hockey schools, tournaments, alumni games, and a golf tournament, along with a festival-like atmosphere. Russell's native son Theoren Fleury will return to his roots this summer to be the featured National Hockey league star at a hockey school running from July 19-23. Fleury, who after winning an Olympic goal medal in 2002 made headlines in the last few years for the wrong reasons, says he has a new outlook on life and intends to focus his new energy and enthusiasm to giving back to youth. "You will see me on the ice each day," said Fleury, whose National Hockey League rights belong to the Chicago Blackhawks. "We will have a dynamic week with loads of fun. I always get back up when down and we are all going to work hard and have a blast." This will be the tenth year for the hockey school, which took a one-year hiatus in 2003. Among the instructors scheduled to join Fleury are Mike Green (Florida Panthers NHL), Mike Dube (Vancouver Giants WHL), Andrew Fenton (former Chicago Blackhawk), and Dave Chartier (former Winnipeg Jet). Prior to the Fleury hockey school, the first ever Rural Female Hockey School will be held from July 12-16. Headline instructors include Dana Antal of Esterhazy, SK (Olympic gold medallist, member 2004 Team Canada), Jenel Bode of Yorkton, SK (Cornell University), and Kaley Hall, Navada Russell and Becky Klein-Swormink (Calgary Oval X-Treme). Registration to the two schools is open to those players aged 6 to 14. They will be grouped according to age and hockey experience. Included in the $299 fee is 40 hours of hockey camp and a jersey. To register call Peter London at 1-800-482-5869, or e-mail him at [email protected]. As part of the 'Summer Hockey Holiday', organizers are inviting parents and siblings to make Russell their destination and take part in the on-ice and off-ice activities. "We view this as a primary opportunity to showcase our diverse culture and history, and our small town hospitality," said Eldon Montgomery, one of the organizers and the deputy-mayor. Plans are underway for a reunion of the Russell Rams, along with a shinny tournament open to the public. Besides hockey, there will be a pancake breakfast, beef barbecues and street music, along with interpretive tours of the community. A kids program, golf, fishing seminars and river tubing at Asessippi are also in the plans.
