IROQUOIS FALLS - Some of the greatest Abitibi Eskimos in the history of the the NOJHL franchise will take to the ice at the Jus Jordan Arena on Friday, Dec. 21 for the team’s alumni game.
There should be no shortage of offence, with the likes of Marc-Alain Begin, Josh Clancy, Felix Boutin, Erik Robichaud and Dan Dube suiting up.
Dube, currently an assistant coach with the Eskimos, is a former captain of the squad.
He picked up 103 points in 100 regular season games with the Eskimos and was an NOJHL first team all-start and league MVP during the 2006-07 campaign.
Dube is excited about the opportunity to get together with some of his former teammates.
“It’s been a long time since I have talked to most of them, so it will be nice to catch up and see what’s going on with their lives,” he said.
“That’s what it’s all about, having an alumni game like this.
“I am really looking forward to it. I have always kept in touch with some of the players from previous years … guys from when we won the league championship, so I am anxious to talk to those guys and catch up.”
For Eskimos fans, the lineups will be like a pair of dream teams.
“I have seen the lineups and there is a lot of talent,” Dube said.
“I’ll be one of the older guys, so I’ll have to make sure that they younger guys slow down, so that I can keep up to them.”
Begin, a Hearst native, set team records for both assist (92) and points (123) during the 2011-12 season.
In 128 career games with the Eskimos, Begin registered 283 points.
Clancy, like Dube, is a former Eskimos captain.
The Iroquois Falls native was named to the NOJHL first all-start teams during the 2009-10 season and earned most gentlemanly player honours during the 2010-11 campaign.
Boutin, one of Begin’s former linemates, registered 213 points during 184 games in the black, gold and white.
His honours include: NOJHL best overall team player (2008-09); NOJHL Molson player of the year (2009-10); NOJHL scoring champion (2009-10); and NOJHL first all-star team centre (2009-10).
Robichaud, who currently plays for the QMJHL’s P.E.I. Rockets, played just one season with the Eskimos, but it was an eventful season. He led the team in scoring, with 74 points, during the 2010-11 campaign, and was name the NOJHL’ rookie of the year.
A pair of Iroquois Falls natives currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League, but who never suited up with the Eskimos will also be lending their support to the worthy cause.
Brody Silk, of the Sudbury Wolves, and Ryan Kujawinski, of the Kingston Frontenacs, have donated autographed jerseys and/or sticks to be raffled off at the game.
In addition, the players will be on hand to sign autographs in exchange for contributions to the team’s Greg St. James Memorial Scholarship.
Game time for the contest is 7:30 p.m.
