City, province to rekindle ‘hockey rivalry’

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This article was published 21/11/2024 (651 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City and provincial elected officials and employees will face off on the ice later this month, rekindling a half-century old “hockey rivalry.”

Mayor Scott Gillingham and other members of city council will join staff members in a game against Premier Wab Kinew, other MLAs and provincial employees in a friendly match to celebrate Winnipeg’s 150th anniversary.

The event recreates a similar match played 50 years ago during the city’s centennial, when Mayor Stephen Juba’s City Fathers played Premier Edward Schreyer’s Golden Boys.

“It was just a fun game between the province and the city. We’re looking to kind of re-do that game now, 50 years later,” Gillingham told reporters Thursday. “I think it’ll be a lot of fun. The public’s welcome to come out and watch.”

The game starts at Gateway Recreation Centre at 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 30. Admission is free, and the first 250 attendees will receive free hot dogs and drinks from the City of Winnipeg. Fans are encouraged to take non-perishable food donations for Harvest Manitoba, the city said in a news release Thursday.

“Most of us spend more time passing laws than passing pucks these days, but Winnipeg is a hockey town, and this is a fun way to celebrate our city’s 150th anniversary and the strong connection between the city and province,” Gillingham said in the release.

“I can’t promise the hockey will be pretty, but municipal government is all about being scrappy and digging hard in the corners.”

Kinew said in the release he’s excited for the game.

“When it comes to governing, our team is always focused on where the puck is going, so we’ll have to prove that on the ice,” he said.

Dan Lett, a Free Press columnist, will referee the game. LTI, a co-host on 103.1 Virgin Radio’s The Ace Burpee Show, will handle the play-by-play.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca