This past weekend the City of Yorkton played host to several former CFL players as the Lions Clubs of Saskatchewan held the inaugural Lions’ Celebrity Weekend in the city.
CFL alumni such as Gary Rogers (1994-99, Saskatchewan, Montreal), Larry Hogue (1983-91, Saskatchewan, Calgary), Marshall Hamilton (1981-1985, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Calgary), Fred Perry (1999-2009, Toronto, Edmonton, Ottawa, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg) and Marcus ‘Chunky’ Adams (2003-11, Saskatchewan, Edmonton) were in attendance throughout the weekend.
Even Damon Duval (2005-11, Montreal, Edmonton), the man responsible for breaking the hearts of Rider Nation in 2009 with a last second 33-yard field goal that gave the Montreal Alouettes a 28-27 Grey Cup victory, was in attendance to help raise money for the Lions’ chosen charity the Heart and Stroke Foundation, with specific focus on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which is a disease of the heart in which the walls of the heart thicken causing the muscle to work harder than it should.
It is also the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes and, according to event organizer Aaron Nagy, far more common than many people know. “It’s a genetic heart disease that affects 1-in-120 youth,” said Nagy. “So in a city the size of Yorkton it’s very possible that several kids have this disease but just don’t know a lot about it.
“So we’re bringing attention to that and we’re hoping that we can educate the people about this and maybe save a life or something like that.”
The way the Lions brought attention to the disease was simple. They brought the CFL celebrities - as well as the Grey Cup itself – to Yorkton for a weekend that included a pancake breakfast, celebrity basketball tournament and steak night on Friday and a cheerleading clinic, youth football clinic, barbeque and celebrity banquet on Saturday.
Friday
Over 120 people came out to the pancake breakfast at the Yorkton Fire Hall on Friday morning both in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and to meet the CFL celebrities, who were also eager to dive into some pancakes before taking part in a celebrity charity basketball game later in the day.
The celebrity basketball tournament on Friday afternoon at Sacred Heart’s Halo Dome – which saw the CFL alumni take on the senior Saints basketball players – was one of the biggest highlights of the first day as the CFL stars came away with a six point victory, 33-27, over the Saints on a very rare six point basketball game touchdown (in reality the game was tied) in a game that was memorable for both the Saints’ players and CFL all-stars. “It was a great game for a great cause. All of the students were a buzz out here supporting us and having fun with it,” said Duval. “I hope everybody enjoyed it and we were just able to come out here and have a good time, relax a little bit, enjoy a bit more of the day and play some basketball for a good cause.
“I know I enjoyed it and I won’t forget playing the Saints.”
Graduating Saints basketball player Bryn Hawkins also enjoyed the game, despite one occasion in which she was illegally held back by Fred Perry. “I actually thought he was trying to dance with me there,” laughed Hawkins, continuing, “so I was just going with it and then realized he wasn’t and was just cheating so that wasn’t really fair but it’s okay because I’m a good sport!”
Following the basketball game the players moved on to Pocket’s Sports Bar for a sold out steak night that saw a special guest – the Grey Cup – make an appearance.
Saturday
As successful as Friday was, Saturday was even more so as the CFL stars were in their element all day teaching the local youth the ins and outs of the game of football. “It’s about the kids today. We’re here to make sure these kids get better and teach them as much as we possibly can,” offered former Saskatchewan Roughrider defensive tackle Marcus ‘Chunky’ Adams. “Any time you can come out here and help out the kids is always a joy, especially for me. I’m smiling, I’m happy and being on the football grass again is like a dream come true.
“I’m always happy to come out here with the kids and help them out, joke around with them and have a good time on the football field.”
The players enjoyed the experience as well, with kids from Saskatchewan and Manitoba taking part in the football camp.
Saturday also included a cheerleading camp inside the Halo Dome, a lunch-time BBQ with all money raised going to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and a celebrity banquet at the Painted Hand Casino in the evening to end what event organizer Aaron Nagy called “a very successful event” that was “very well attended” by the people of Yorkton.