West Kelowna going wild for hockey next weekend

WEST KELOWNA – NHL hockey alumni, including Kirk McLean, Jordin Tootoo and Josh Gorges, will visit West Kelowna as part of the Rogers Hometown Hockey party the weekend of Jan. 18 to 20.

It’s one of 25 stops across Canada and culminates with Rogers hockey commentators Ron MacLean and Tara Stone hosting the pre-game show for the outdoor broadcasting of that night’s NHL game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Arizona Coyotes, according to a media release.

Events start Friday, Jan. 18, at 5 p.m. with a Hometown Hockey barbecue at Royal LaPage Place, prior to the West Kelowna Warrior’s game against the Vernon Vipers.

Saturday has the Hometown Hockey Festival, culminating with a ball hockey game between the RCMP, West Kelowna Fire Rescue and NHL alumni.

Action starts at noon Sunday, Jan. 20, with the Warriors taking on the Prince George Spruce Kings and winding up with the NHL game. Pre-game activities start at 4 p.m.

West Kelowna is one of 25 Canadian cities talking part in the travelling festival, including three others in B.C. Those are Langley this weekend and followed by Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt and Whistler in February.

Gorges was born in Kelowna and led the Kelowna Rockets to the Memorial Cup as their captain in 2004 and has played in the NHL with San Jose, Montreal and Buffalo.

Kirk McLean played goal for the Vancouver Canucks from 1987 to the 1997-98 season. Tootoo was the first Inuk player in the NHL, spending most of his career with the Nashville Predators.

Full details are available here.

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