Leach (always) seeking to score an assist

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This article was published 28/01/2023 (1007 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Reggie Leach is a sports legend. Regarded as a star from one of hockey’s greatest eras, his hockey career includes winning the Stanley Cup in 1975 and the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player in 1976. He led the league in goals, was a member of the Team Canada champions and continues to hold NHL and team records.

His list of awards and accolades received includes the Order of Canada, Order of Manitoba, induction into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, Philadelphia Flyers Hall of Fame, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and Manitoba Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame. He also received doctor of laws degree from Brock University (Ont.) and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award.

But there’s a whole other life, one after hockey, that makes Leach a star with a profound impact. Author of The Riverton Rifle: My Story — Straight Shooting on Hockey and on Life, Leach has dedicated his life to giving back.

“I’m very lucky that I’m in a situation that I can help people along the way,” said Leach, who is of Ojibwa ethnicity, and a member of Berens River First Nation in Manitoba.

Leach, 72, grew up in Riverton and now lives in Manitoulin Island, Ont., during the winter, returning to Manitoba from April to October every year.

Passionate about motivational speaking, educating and inspiring youth, Leach has visited about 300 First Nations communities throughout North America, sharing lessons learned and owning choices made.

“I’m a big believer in giving back to where you came from,” said Leach, who’s long been actively involved in fundraising through the Reggie Leach Classic golf tournaments and events to support organizations in Riverton.

“Those are things that I was brought up to do as a kid: to be kind, be humble, stay positive.”

Leach uses his life experience to inspire and motivate young people across North America. Connective North, which fosters student engagement and enhanced education outcomes in remote Indigenous communities, is one of the many organizations he partners with, doing Zoom calls with northern communities.

“I speak about life choices; how important education is. I talk about the mistakes I made growing up. I believe that everybody makes mistakes, that if you take responsibility for yourself, you become stronger. I tell them my life story, about drugs and alcohol, life choices, life in general,” said Leach, who entered rehab for alcohol abuse in 1985, and has remained sober ever since.

Grades 9 to 12 students from northern communities get a copy of his book before his visits and through open dialogue ask everything from why he stopped drinking to what it took to do so.

“One school called me back several times. The kids are asking very important questions,” he said.

“Whatever choice you make, you own that choice, good or bad. I think overall in today’s world, what’s going on, we as grandparents and parents, we’ve got to guide the kids in the right direction. We give the kids everything they want and they don’t have to be responsible for anything.

“In today’s world, there’s no respect for elders, teachers. I’m a big fan of educators. I tell the kids, the teachers you have there, they have to go to college. All you have to do is listen. If you don’t listen, you don’t learn.”

That persistence and determination runs in the Leach family.

His son Jamie, who runs a Shoot to Score program out of Winnipeg, played in the NHL for parts of five seasons, winning the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992. They are the only First Nations father-and-son duo to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup.

Leach and his two children have all represented Canada: Leach with Team Canada in 1976; Jamie at the world junior hockey championship in 1989; and daughter Brandie at the world lacrosse championships in Scotland in 1993.

His wife, Dawn Mahdabee Leach, has received numerous awards and will be recognized next month in Toronto with the 2023 Business Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

For Leach, it’s both important and gratifying to give back to the community.

“Being an elder and stuff like that and receiving all these awards, I always give credit to all First Nations people and the people of Riverton. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be getting all these awards. It takes a whole community, they’re still very proud of who I am,” he said.

“It’s a good life, it really is. Everybody knows me as a hockey player; that’s just a stepping stone to who I am today. I am more proud of what I have done after hockey.

“Today’s world is dangerous. We have all these drugs around the country. Things are going bad. First Nations communities, that’s what I think about all the time, I want to help them… A lot of people are not well off, they’re struggling. I think it’s our responsibility to help as many as possible, keep them on the right path.”

Leach will be fundraising for Riverton organizations including the local rink, fire hall and minor hockey programs every month until April, and is planning a golf tournament in July. (To contribute or find out more about speaking engagements, email: zreg27@yahoo.com.)

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca