A thunderstorm lit up the sky outside, but inside the Whitecap Resources Centre Friday night, it was a reunion of generations for the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings. Twenty-four alumni players, and a handful of current Red Wings took to the ice for the alumni game, giving fans a chance to see past favourites and connect with old friends.
The event, which came ahead of the Red Wings Alumni Par 3 Golf Tournament at the Weyburn Golf Club on Saturday, saw former players lace up the skates alongside six members of the current roster. The oldest player on the ice was Mike Spencer, a member of the 1983-84 National Championship team, at age 62. The youngest was 17-year-old current Red Wing Aidan Mohan.
For many, it was a chance to wear the iconic winged wheel jersey once more. Preston Shupe, who played for the Red Wings from 2006 to 2009 before a collegiate and professional career, said the experience was a lot of fun.
"Looking back, some of the best years a guy has, he's probably playing here for the Red Wings," Shupe said. "So, to be able to come back and see a lot of familiar faces, and play with and against a bunch of your old buddies, and guys you used to watch growing up... It was a very fun experience."
The Whitecap Resources Centre, or the Weyburn Coliseum as it was known when he played here, holds a special place for him.
"This is my favorite arena in the world," Shupe stated. "It's home, and it always has been home."
The sentiment was shared by the team's most recent captain, Blake Betson. After three seasons with the club, Betson called the alumni game a "privilege to be a part of". He reflected on the team's journey during his tenure, from being a team "towards the bottom of the league" to one that made a run to the league final.
"It's pretty cool just to see how much this organization has grown and all the support that comes with it," Betson said.
The game began with a ceremonial faceoff taken by former head coach Dwight McMillan, who then stepped behind the bench to coach Team White. On the ice were three members of national championship teams: Spencer (1983-84), and Marc Schweitzer and Brendon Vertefeuille from the 2004-05 squad.
Being on the ice with that history was a powerful experience for Betson.
"It just kind of makes you a little sad a little bit, if I'm being totally honest with you," he admitted. "Just kind of hearing about how these guys won, it kind of makes it suck a little more that we weren't able to pull it out."
However, he stressed the lasting impact of the organization beyond wins and losses. "It's just awesome to hear everyone's experiences and life lessons... it goes a lot longer than people think of just friendships and memories, and it's stuff you cherish the rest of your life."
At the end of the day, while Team Red won the game handily, the score itself wasn't the big concern aside from bragging rights amongst friends. It was the feeling of connection, reuniting what Shupe called "a big Red Wing family, so it's a very, very special thing."