Eskimos alumni put on good show

IROQUOIS FALLS – More than 380 fans turned out to the Jus Jordan Arena on Friday for the 2012 Abitibi Eskimos alumni game.

The event featured a tilt between Team White and Team Black, featuring players like the “BBC line” of Marc-Alain Begin, Felix Boutin and Josh Clancy, James Daschuk, “Everyday” Eddie Davey, Scott Colosimo, Joel Vienneau and Eric Paquette just to name a few.

Team White stunned the crowd with a 14-10 victory over the favoured Team Black.

“It was a great success despite the weather,” said alumni game co-chair Rick Charlebois. “The local folks came out to support the event and a lot of people braved the adverse winter conditions to do the same and everybody was treated to a heck of a good time.”

The format followed a typical Junior ‘A’ game with three, 20-minute stop-time periods.

“I was amazed at the speed of the play, considering you have guys up to 32 years old,” said Charlebois.

A back-up plan was in place just in case the players were tired by the third period.

The plan involved going to a shootout.

“But the guys kept going. It was intense,” said Charlebois.

A total of five goalies dressed for the game, with each taking turns between the pipes.

Out of the 43 players invited to participate in the game, only four didn’t make it for various reasons.

For some of the players, the game was the perfect opportunity to catch up on where their lives had taken them.

“It was awesome to see all the guys again,” said Team Black skater Scott Colosimo, who played from 2007-2009 and is currently an assistant coach with the 1000 Islands Privateers of the Federal Hockey League. “I haven’t been here in like three or four years. It was good to reminisce about the old days.”

Davey, who currently plays Division 3 university hockey outside of Boston said, “It was a good experience. It was nice to come see the guys. It wasn’t so much about strutting the stuff as it was being with the guys.”