The Estevan Bruins announced on Thursday that former NHL defenceman Marty McSorley will be the featured speaker at the team's annual celebrity sportsman's dinner on May 25.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion, McSorley is best known for his years with the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, where he established himself as one of the league's toughest players and top stay-at-home defencemen.
McSorley's career spanned 961 games with the Oilers, Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins. During that time, he compiled 359 points and 3,381 penalty minutes, the fourth-most in NHL history. After his playing career ended, McSorley had a two-year stint as the head coach of the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons and is currently an analyst for Sportsnet.
"During his appearance at the dinner McSorley will talk about his incredible career, which included playing alongside such legendary players as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Mario Lemieux, as well as his many battles along the way," the Bruins said in a news release. Joining McSorley at the dinner will be former Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Scott Schultz and former Winnipeg Jets star Morris Lukowich. Schultz, a Moose Jaw native, was a member of the 2007 Grey Cup team and was also a CFL all-star in 2005.
"The always entertaining Schultz, who retired in 2009, will speak about his time in football, which included a stint in the NFL before he became a key piece of the Riders' resurgence," the release says. Lukowich, a Speers native, played nine NHL seasons with the Jets, Bruins and Kings and also played three years in the World Hockey Association.
The dinner will be emceed by Rod Pedersen, the Roughriders' play-by-play announcer.For the past five years, the sportsman's dinner was used as a fundraiser for Spectra Place. It is returning to the Bruins this year.
"The Bruins' organization was proud to assist in the fundraising for Spectra Place and looks forward to maintaining the high level set by the fundraising dinner committee. The club also looks forward to the continued support of the community during what is a key fundraiser for the franchise," the release says. The recipients of the Estevan male and female athletes of the year and volunteer coach of the year awards will also be named at the dinner.
