BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Local goaltender Chris Penny has a lot on his
mind right now.
Penny, 29, is battling a flu and it has him
nailed to his bed, but that's the least of his concerns.
Penny, who also works at Cecil Facer Youth
Centre (CFYC) as a correctional officer, is suiting up in net
for the Law Enforcement All-stars hockey team, which will take
on the NHL Alumni stars in the third annual Torch Run for
Special Olympics benefit game.
The fundraising hockey game takes place on
Sunday, Oct. 23 at the Garson Community Centre. Game time is 2
pm. Tickets are $16 each or three for $34, four for $42, five
for $48 or 10 for $80.
Penny, who has played the NHL Alumni three
times in his lifetime, knows he's in for a tough game.
"When you play against these guys, you really
learn to appreciate just how good they still are," said Penny.
"There's no doubt it's good hockey. The NHL Alumni can really
put on the pressure when they want to score a goal. I am
looking forward to it. It will be fun and it's for a good
cause."
Money raised by the game goes to the Law
Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, which assists
Ontario Special Olympics, the organization which gives athletes
with intellectual disabilities the chance to participate and
compete in a variety of sports.
Because of Special Olympics, tens of
thousands of athletes of all ages are allowed to compete in
numerous athletic events and realize their hopes and
dreams.
Penny, meanwhile, will have his hands full
with the NHL Alumni, which includes former 50-goal men and
Toronto Maple Leafs players Gary Leeman and Wilf Paiement, and
a host of other former top notch NHLers, including former Leafs
forward Bill Derlago, former Calgary defenceman Ric Nattress,
former Montreal Canadien Mark Napier, and former St. Louis
Blues player Tony McKegney.
Former Boston Bruins tough guy Stan Jonathan
could also be in the lineup for the Alumni.
The CFYC workers have no problem with getting
schooled by some of the NHL's former best.
"The CFYC staff are very proud to be able to
raise funds for such a worthwhile cause," said Joe Shaw,
operations manager. "Since most of the
staff played hockey, it's something we all
enjoy doing and it's a chance to share the ice with some great
players from the NHL Alumni."
Shaw said he and CFYC staff really enjoy the
experience with the NHL Alumni on and off the ice.
"It's fun to see the crowd cheering on both
teams,î said Shaw. " The best part is everyone getting a chance
to sit down with the Alumni players at Don Cherry's after the
game.
"They're really great guys, very down to
earth and they enjoy sharing stories about what they are doing
now as well as when they played."
In the past two years, the benefit game has
raised over $12,000.
"I am personally looking forward to seeing
how much money we are able to raise this year," said Shaw. "We
have a lot of wonderful sponsors from
our community that always come through.
"The money raised in our community, stays in
our community for our own Special Olympian athletes."
