Leafs tough guy helps sports mag celebrate success

Legendary Toronto Maple Leafs tough-guy Wendel Clark will help celebrate the success of Sudbury Sports Magazine at a Sept. 11 event.

The retired NHLer is the guest speaker at Sports & Stars, a gala dinner being put on by the magazine at the Caruso Club.

Although Sudbury Sports Magazine — one of Northern Life's sister publications — has been around since March 2013, it never had an official launch.

Sports & Stars is the perfect way to recognize the milestone, said the magazine's managing editor, Laurel Myers.

“This event is the first of its kind in Greater Sudbury, and we are so excited to share this amazing night with our community,” she said.

Myers said there's been a “great response” to Sudbury Sports Magazine.

“Everybody's excited to have this publication available to them,” she said. “It's a lot of positive news, covering everybody from the tykes right up to the professionals.”

A limited number of VIP tickets will be sold to those interested in getting up close and personal with Clark. They'll be able to attend a private meet and greet with the hockey star before the gala.

The event also includes a beer tasting, live entertainment and an auction of celebrity items such as boxing gloves signed by Justin Trudeau and a pair of pink heels owned by ET Canada host, Cheryl Hickey.

Proceeds from the auction go to Big Brothers Big Sisters Greater Sudbury.

The organization's executive director, Chantal Gladu, said the funds will be used to bolster its outdoor activity programs.

“It's so great that they have selected us as their charity of choice,” she said.

The Sports & Stars VIP event starts at 5:30 p.m., and the main event at 6 p.m.

VIP tickets cost $100 each and general admission tickets $50 each. They can be purchased online at www.sudburysportsmag.ca/sportsandstars or at the Northern Life office, located at 158 Elgin St.