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| Lanny McDonald chats with Dalhousie Tigers men's hockey captain Neil Smith. (Nick Pearce Photo) |
The Dalhousie Tigers scored a hat trick Wednesday night as former Toronto Maple Leaf and Calgary Flame Lanny McDonald was the guest of honour at the annual Celebrity Auction and Dinner. He’s the third Hall of Fame hockey player to headline the event, last year featuring Darryl Sittler and Jean Beliveau in 2006.
Co-hosted by the Department of Athletics and Recreational Services and Dalhousie President Dr. Tom Traves, the sold-out event raised more than $60,000 in support of varsity athletics at the university.
After posing for a group photograph with student-athletes and departmental staff, Mr. McDonald greeted guests at pre-dinner reception. Fans, both old and young, lined up to shake his hand, have a jersey signed, or pose with him for a photograph.
Following a sit-down dinner, the mustachioed hockey player from Hanna, Alberta spoke for about half an hour, delighting the crowd with anecdotes from his playing days. His stories, humorous and self-deprecating, were populated with well-known hockey personalities, including Don Cherry, Bobby Orr, Dave “Tiger” Williams, and Bryan Trottier.
The auction that followed was a sports memorabilia collector’s dream come true. Among the items sold were signed jerseys from Sidney Crosby, Maurice Richard, Niklas Lidstrom, Bobby Orr, various Anaheim Ducks and of course Lanny McDonald, all of which were modeled on stage by varsity athletes. A large collection of signed photographs and other souvenirs were also sold through the silent auction.