Shane Thompson: 2020 Hockey Day in Canada

Déclarations et discours de ministres

Yellowknife — 7 février 2020

Check Against Delivery

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to rise and speak to Members about the celebration of the 2020 Hockey Day in Canada being hosted here in Yellowknife. The celebration was launched on February 5th and will continue to the 8th.

This event marks the 9th year of the festival celebrating hockey, one of Canada’s national sports. Norman Wells, Dettah and N’Dilo will also play host to visits associated with Hockey Day in Canada, as well as Deline, which is the birthplace of hockey in Canada.

The festivities will bring kids’ hockey and officiating clinics, various hockey games, school visits, NHL celebrities and of course the Stanley Cup to Yellowknife.

Celebrity participants will be part of the festivities including: television host Ron McLean along with NHL alumni Lanny McDonald, Brian Trottier, Paul Coffey, Wendel Clark, Darcy Tucker and former Women’s National Team member Cassie Campbell-Pascal.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the City of Yellowknife for planning this great event. Thank you to the sponsors for your support of such a great community event. Thank you to all of our honored guests for coming to the North. We hope you are enjoying our world renowned northern hospitality.  

I would also like to give a special thank you to all of the volunteers who help make this event happen in all the different venues.

There have been a number of events that are a part of the celebrations; these include:

  • The Music of Hockey with performances by local artists - hosted at the Northern Arts & Cultural Centre this past Wednesday evening;
  • The banquet held last night, which featured  Ron MacLean, an NHL Alumni Hot Stove discussion and the Stanley Cup;
  • An NHL Declaration of Principles Breakfast hosted by NHL Alumni Andrew Ference this morning; and,
  • later this evening, the Celebrity and Alumni Classic hockey game.

As mentioned earlier there have also been various hockey and officiating clinics and school visits scheduled throughout the festival.

Mr. Speaker, this is a wonderful community event which not only honours the great sport of hockey but also showcases the North, Northerners and the incredible spirit of community that we all share in this very special place. Thank you once again to all involved, for making such a wonderful event happen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.