We don't pay nearly enough attention to history and all the neat stories that come with that. . . . Yes, I am a sucker for those kinds of stories, stories like this one . . .
The Kelowna Rockets are going to salute the Kelowna Packers on Nov. 12 when the Vancouver Giants are in town. The Packers, who are to be inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, are celebrating the 50th anniversary of a series they played in Russia.
On Nov. 12, the Rockets will wear jerseys that are replicas of the Packers' uniforms. The Rockets' jerseys will be sold through a silent auction during the game, with proceeds going to the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame.
"The Packers are a huge part of the rich hockey history in Kelowna and as an organization we feel very fortunate to be part of such a special event," Bruce Hamilton, the Rockets' president and general manager, said in a statement. "When you look back to the great Canada-Russia series over the years, (the Packers) really were the pioneers of what would become some of the most anticipated hockey events in the history of international sport."
According to the Rockets' release, "The Packers were the first Canadian team to ever skate on Russian ice and paved the way for the 1972 Summit Series."
Eighteen of the 23 Packers are expected to be at the Nov. 12 game - Pat Coburn, Fred Dunsmore, Mike Durban, Marv Edwards, Gerry Goyer, Romi Ito, Greg Jablonski, Bill Jones, Joe Kaiser, Russ Kowalchuk, Andy McCallum, Jim Middleton, Brian Roche, Ewait Sapinsky, Harry Smith, Tom Stecyk, Bill Swarbrick, Gordon (Mo) Young.
Posts
