The Lethbridge Sugar Kings were a founding Member of the Alberta Junior A Hockey League team and Lanny McDonald was part of the Sugar Kings team for two seasons. In the 1969-70 season the Sugar Kings who were the defending AJHL Champions were comprised mostly of first year players (having only seven returnees) from the Championship team. One of those first year players was Lanny McDonald who had 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) to go along with 19 PIM’s in 34 games.
(Hurricanes sporting the Sugar Kings jerseys with former team members)In the 1970-71 season the Sugar Kings lost the Alberta Finals to the Red Deer Rustlers. Fire also destroyed the place they called home. On March 12th, 1971 the 50-year old Lethbridge Arena burned to the ground and with it went a lifetime of memories and hockey history. The season moved forward and second-year Centre Lanny McDonald who dealt with injuries his rookie season had a breakout year. McDonald finished first in team scoring with 37 goals and 45 assists in 45 games and he added 56 penalty minutes during the regular season. McDonald was named the AJHL’s Most Valuable Player for this year, and he also won the Alex Bennie Memorial Trophy as the Kings MVP.
Thursday, January 26th is the Hurricanes 7th annual Celebrity Sports dinner. Those in attendance will be entertained by Clark Robertson (a Don Cherry impersonator) and there will also be a live auction planned for the evening.
Some of the live auction items include:
Gordie Howe Detroit Red Wing autographed jersey
Brent Seabrook Team Canada autographed jersey
Luca Sbisa Anaheim Ducks autographed jersey
Joe Sakic Colorado Avalanche autographed jersey
Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguin autographed jersey
Trip to New York
Sonoma VIP Wine Experience
Napa Valley Wine Country VIP Tour
Sports Fan Getaway
On game day, Friday, January 27th a pregame ceremony is planned to honour the Sugar Kings and that will be followed by a ceremonial puck drop.
(From Esther Madziya, Hurricanes Media Relations)
Thanks,
Pat
It will be good to see Lanny again. I went to school with him at Winston Churchill...also John Davidson ....i do remember the night the arena burnt also...was playing bouncer at a school dance and could see the flames from the front doors of the school...it's about time we recognize the Kings
ReplyDeleteNo word from the Hurricanes, but see that Austin Fyten became a free agent on Tuesday and is being checked out by the Vancouver Giants.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that the More famous Alumni Lanny McDonald, John Davidson were great players as their NHL records Show. Its diaappoining to note however that the writer choose to ignore the accomplishments of the 1968-1969 team that finished first in the league won the Alberta title, won the Doyle Cup as AB BC champs and made it to the Memorial Cup semi finals loosing to the Regina Pats I guess the blogger is not old enough to remember
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