Among the NHL alumni making their way to Grande Prairie this weekend is former Edmonton Oiler and Montreal Canadien Georges Laraque. He’ll be taking part in the festivities for Hometown Hockey, including the live broadcast of a Habs game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Laraque says he enjoys coming to more rural areas, and has visited Grimshaw and Peace River before.
“The kids have dreams and they have questions about what it’s like to play in the NHL. Those kids that have dreams, they think that living in a small those dreams can’t happen; I grew up in a small town and I know what it’s like. Everything is possible; all dreams are possible.”
The Hometown Hockey Tour takes legendary hockey broadcaster Ron MacLean to cities across Canada that don’t have their own franchise. Laraque says he and other alumni understand that sometimes hockey’s biggest fans aren’t in the biggest cities.
“People, they really appreciate it when they get to people to come down there and visit them and take the time of day to talk to them, take pictures, signing autographs, because we know just to fly from there to come to Edmonton sometimes can be really costly, so coming to them and celebrating their little town – it’s awesome.”
Laraque will be joined by fellow former Oiler Marty McSorely for hockey-themed activities that will run at Revolution Place all weekend. Local legend and former NHL player Clint Malarchuk will also be a part of the festivities. A pancake breakfast and skate is being held Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Muskoseepi Park, before the activities begin at Revolution Place.