To their credit, the organizers of Hockey Day in Richmond have chosen to combine fun with a serious message during the event on May 7. So they asked retired Calgary Flames player Theo Fleury to deliver an inspiring talk to kids about the abuse he suffered by a former coach (Graham James), his other struggles (substance addiction, gambling) and his recovery.
This is the same Theo Fleury who had the audacity to predict, on his Calgary radio show just a few weeks ago, that the Vancouver Canucks would be ousted in the first round!
With the Canucks now poised to sweep the Chicago Blackhawks with a win tonight, the last laugh could well be on Fleury for his foolish forecasting. He’s already taken a lot of flak from Canucks fans which you can read about in Cam Cole’s column here. And click here for the original story by Ian Walker about Fleury’s prediction.
Here’s what I am wondering: will the controversy which erupted when Fleury made the comments affect the attendance at the Hockey Day event in Richmond? Will kids and their parents hold it against him? Here’s the press release about the event which is now accepting registrations:
RICHMOND, BC ‐ Young sports enthusiasts and local community sports organizations are invited to participate in Hockey Day in Richmond on Saturday, May 7, from 12 to 5 p.m. at HJ Cambie secondary school. Hockey Day in Richmond, a Youth Week event, will include an afternoon floor hockey tournament, followed by a keynote address “Don’t Quit Before the Miracle” by Theo Fleury. Fleury will also join the youth for part of the floor hockey tournament.
Fleury is not only a former NHL All‐Star (ex‐Calgary Flames), and #1 bestseller with his book Playing With Fire, but also a singer songwriter, Stanley Cup winner, Olympic gold medalist at Salt Lake 2002, and World Junior Champion. A much in demand keynote speaker, Fleury will talk to youth about his own person struggles in recovery from abuse and addiction to substances and gambling. The presentation is sure to motivate and inspire.
“Hockey Day in Richmond promises to be one of the largest Youth Week events that Richmond has ever seen,” said Richard Dubras, executive director, Richmond Addiction Services. “It will be a fun‐filled afternoon that will focus on prevention of substance use and abuse.”
Hockey Day in Richmond is presented by Richmond Addiction Services (RASS) in partnership with Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV). Registration for the tournament is open to individuals and teams. Players must be between the ages of 7 to 17. Registration is free. Pre‐registration is advised by May 2nd. For more information about how to register for you or your team for an afternoon of floor hockey, contact www.richmondaddictions.ca. Hurry, team spaces are limited.
Fleury’s keynote address is free. RSVP to email@example.com