2023 Gordie Howe CARES Pro-Am

MAY 26-28, 2023

CALGARY, ALBERTA

WELCOME TO THE GORDIE HOWE C.A.R.E.S. PRO-AM

To our Extended Hockey Family and Valued Sponsors:

Thank you for being part of the 2023 Gordie Howe CARES Pro-Am weekend.

We cannot thank you enough for your kind generosity toward this event and more importantly this very worthwhile cause.

Every five minutes someone receives a new diagnosis of dementia that will change their lives forever.

When people hear the name Gordie Howe, they remember that tough but graceful hockey player sporting the famous number 9, affectionately known as “Mr. Hockey.” In a career spanning twenty-six NHL seasons, he accomplished more than anyone could have ever imagined. Today, an even bigger legacy exists to reduce statistics instead of creating them.

As the signature fundraising event of Gordie Howe CARES, the Pro-Am tournament has a multi-faceted objective.

JAY HARALSON Event Chair

Gordie Howe CARES provides education and support to the caregivers that selflessly dedicate their time caring for loved ones affected with Alzheimer’s and dementia related diseases, so they are never alone on their journey. Our initiative includes the development of an interactive tool to help families prepare for the challenging times ahead of them. Through the incorporation of video stories, advice, and planning tools, they can feel confident making decisions collectively while maintaining their health and relationships at home and in the workplace.

Through the partnership with Dr. Zahinoor Ismail, Gordie Howe CARES has retained the specialized research and subject matter expertise necessary required to inform our caregiving support system. Dr. Ismail has research positions at Hotchkiss Brain Institute

and the University of Calgary. He is a unique Specialist Physician in the sense that he remains a clinician and is involved in direct patient care, but also holds the research designation of Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Epidemiology.

The combination of this depth of research on dementia related illness and the development of this proprietary caregiving community tool, Gordie Howe CARES further assists those affected by dementia through the direct support of the loved ones who are providing support themselves.

Along with every participant, sponsor, fan, and donation, the Gordie Howe CARES Pro-Am tournament continues to play an important role in the support of those who sacrifice so much to be a support themselves.

In addition to our support of caregivers, hockey as a sport in Canada is in its own phase of healing. To spotlight this important effort, Gordie Howe CARES is also making it our goal to keep diversity and inclusivity at the heart of our events, making hockey more available and accessible to all.

This year, we are thrilled to celebrate the 50thAnniversary of the 1972 Summit Series and Phil Esposito. 50 years ago, Esposito participated in the most storied hockey series with the 1972 Summit Series and lifting Canada to a historic win over the then Soviet Union. Our volunteer board and volunteer event committee truly appreciate your ongoing support of this event and we thank you for joining us this afternoon and throughout what is going to prove to be a very memorable weekend.

Jay Haralson

Gordie Howe C.A.R.E.S. Pro-Am Hockey Tournament Chair

and

Gordie Howe C.A.R.E.S. Charity Chair

Proud Jersey Sponsor of the 2023 Gordie Howe CARES Pro-Am

NHL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The NHL Alumni Association is extremely proud to take part in this incredible event which raises much needed funds for Gordie Howe CARES.

I would like to start by thanking all of the participants, volunteers, and sponsors for their incredible commitment to this amazing weekend. You each play a vital role in making this event so successful and your time, dedication and efforts make a real tangible difference in the lives of so many. To each of the participating NHL Alumni, thank you for making this event so special. We are extremely proud to have our members championing this cause which is very near and dear to our NHL Alumni family.

Our team looks forward to this event every year and the NHL Alumni Association is honoured to be a part of the solution to help educate, support and eventually cure this disease which affects far too many. Let’s continue this fight together, as one team.

Glenn Healy Executive Director NHL Alumni

GLENN HEALY NHL Alumni Association

BRAD MAY

The date was April 24,1993. The place – the old Memorial Auditorium (The Aud) in Buffalo, New York. The event - Stanley Cup playoff action, with the Sabres and Bruins playing game 4 of their first round series. With a win the Sabres would sweep the heavily favoured Bruins and do it on home ice no less. There was great energy and anticipation in the building as the game ended in a draw, and overtime would decide the outcome. At 4:48 of the extra frame, Sabre’s announcer Rick Jeanneret made an iconic call, one that has stood the test of time.

“Here’s May going in on goal…he shoots…he SCOOOOOOOOORES…MAYDAY…MAYDAY…MAYDAY…MAYDAY… BRAD MAY WINS IT IN OVERTIME.” In an instant, a Sabre legend was born.

Brad May would go on to have many more fine individual moments in the National Hockey League. Yet if you were to ask his former teammates about the kind of player he was, inevitably the talk would be about Brad the team guy, not about someone who sought the individual spotlight. Websters dictionary defines a Team Player as “Someone who cares more about helping a group or team to succeed than about his or her individual success.” Brad May exemplified to the highest degree the definition of being a team player.

During his 19-year run in the National Hockey League, Brad became known as the type of person that players loved to have on their side. He represented the consummate competitor, someone who often stood up for teammates when the going got tough. He was blessed with longevity as his career spanned 1041 games in the NHL. Becoming a member of that prestigious “Thousand Game Club” (at the time of this writing, only 357

men have accomplished that feat) is a testament to his grit, his toughness, his endurance, and his dedication as an athlete. The Toronto native played for 7 teams during his career, including the Anaheim Ducks, and that is where he would have his name engraved on Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2007. Stanley Cup Champion! It is an accomplishment that stays fresh in his mind, even to the present day.

“That’s what you dream about as a kid, and that’s what you play for as a pro. The opportunity to win the Stanley Cup was always the goal, so to be a part of a team that actually accomplished that is something I will always cherish. It’s a very tough championship to win, some say the toughest in all of sports, and I can attest to that having been through the two-month playoff grind it takes to win that trophy. Yet along the way there have been so many other significant memories as well, such as being a member of Canada’s Gold Medal winning team at the world

BRAD MAY

BRAD MAY

juniors in 1990-91. Then there are the friendships – indeed, the game has been very good to me.”

All of us who follow professional hockey appreciate that it is a tough business comprised of tough people who compete to win at the professional level. As fate would have it, Brad ran into several of those tough people as his career unfolded. It is fair to say that Brad May was not afraid of the pugilistic aspects of the game. And those famous road trips into Alberta included a couple of stops where toughness in your opponents was a given.

“Well yes, I guess you could say that I had a few disagreements with opponents along the way! Some you win, some you lose. Realistically, there were SO many tough people in the league during my era, it’s difficult to name just a few. But as I think back to those Calgary teams, some names stand out. Sandy McCarthy, as tough a forward as you’ll ever find in the league. Of course, the late Wade Belak. You always had to know where he was whenever you were on the ice playing against him! Todd Simpson was another bruiser who would go toe to toe with anyone. And of course, Jarome Iginla was the all-around, dynamic leader of the pack. Those Flame teams of that era were solid from top to bottom with gritty, grinding types of players. In fact, one of the lines I remember hearing in the time that I played in Vancouver was “The best thing about Alberta is the train heading west to get you out of there!” (Tongue in cheek

folks!) Nobody had fun playing the Flames in that building, and you wanted to go home sooner rather than later! But those Calgary players were all wonderful people, great competitors, and I respect them all greatly to this day.”

Like most professional athletes, Brad appreciates the reality that his was a career not undertaken in isolation. Rather, many people contributed to his success, and he looks back with fondness at those who acted as mentors along the way.

“Certainly, there were literally dozens of people who helped me out in my quest to get to the NHL. Again, it’s kind of unfair to mention only a few. But here goes. First, my family. There were a lot of sacrifices from a lot of family members, both in my youth and as an adult, so it probably isn’t fair to name just one or two. But family was my key. Specific to hockey, I will always be thankful for the late Bill LaForge, my junior coach in Niagara Falls. He kind of unleashed the beast in me so to speak and gave me confidence that I could compete at the highest levels of the game. Then there are teammates such as Pat Lafontaine and Dale Hawerchuk who showed me how to be a pro, how to conduct myself both on and off the ice. Coaches such as Ted Nolan, mixed in with management people like Muck (John Muckler) and Brian Burke had a huge influence in my development. I am extremely grateful for all of the people in my life who chipped in along the way.”

BRAD MAY

After retiring as a player, Brad has stayed involved in hockey through several broadcasting assignments, including a stint as an analyst for the Vegas Golden Knights. However, today we find him transitioning into another line of employment not specific to hockey.

“I am currently with a group called Executive Global Tours (EGT), a company that is heavily into arranging golf outings primarily in Europe and the Caribbean for medium to large size groups. We can facilitate a wide range of what we call lifestyle trips, but golf has taken up a lot of our time to date. Of course, I still

am in touch with the hockey fraternity, and often find myself in fundraising hockey games and other charitable activities as my time permits. That is what brings me to Calgary. It’s not unlike when I played the game – all the players tried to be there for each other whenever possible. Great teams are always comprised of great people who choose to serve. That is what the Gordie Howe Cares program is all about – helping out like good teammates always should.”

Brad had a long and productive career in the National Hockey League. Moving forward, he anticipates continuing to give of his time and talents for meaningful charitable undertakings. But if he were to take just a moment and look back instead of forward, how would he like to be remembered as a National Hockey League player?

“I hope that when people think of me in the context of my NHL career, they will reflect on my time in the league and say, “He was a fierce competitor, he had integrity, and he was addicted to fun”. Yes, it would be nice to be thought of in those terms.”

Well Brad, mission accomplished! Your place in hockey history and your personal legacy is assured. And in the context of charitable works, “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY” now has a whole new meaning! Thank you, Brad.

- Dr. Vern Stenlund

2023 Gordie Howe C.A.R.E.S.

of the Gordie Howe Cares Pro-Am Hockey Tournament.

NHL ALUMNI

Meghan Agosta has been a member of the Canadian Women’s National Hockey Team since 2004. She has played in four Olympic Winter Games, winning gold in Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and recently won a silver medal in Pyongchang, South Korea. With nine goals and six assists, she was the top scorer at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and was voted Most Valuable Player and Best Forward as well as being named to the Media All-Star Team.

DAVE BABYCH

TODD BERTUZZI

LINDSAY CARSON

NHL ALUMNI

MATT CLIMIE

CRAIG CONROY

CHRIS DINGMAN

GARNET EXELBY

NHL ALUMNI

DARCY HORDICHUK

NHL ALUMNI

BRAD MAY

WAYNE MCBEAN

RICH PRESTON

NHL

JEREMY ROENICK

DEREK ROY

AUTOGRAPH

NHL ALUMNI

JEFF SCHULTZ

BRIAN SKRUDLAND

MATT STAJAN

DUANE SUTTER

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We support research that changes lives

At CIBC, we are proud to support The Gordie Howe CARES Pro-Am tournament and its ongoing commitment to furthering education, research and caregiver support of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Learn more at cibc.com

The

Proud

NHL ALUMNI

2023 PLAYER ROSTERS

2023 PLAYER ROSTERS

2023 PLAYER ROSTERS

TOURNAMENT GAMES SCHEDULE

EVENT COMMITTEE

JAY HARALSON Event Chair

DARMIDY GOODINE

CRYSTAL MACKEY

BIL TILLAPAUGH

JOSH MARLATT NICK MOHN

LESLIE GALLACHER Power Play Event Consulting Inc., Event Director

TIM GARBUTT Linx Marketing, Hockey Operations

BRETT CHORNEY RON EVANS JEFF FOSTER

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

LUNCHEON SPONSORS

JERSEY SPONSOR

DRAFT NIGHT SPONSOR

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BEER SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

PUCK SPONSOR

RAFFLE SPONSOR

HYDRATION SPONSOR

TEQUILA SUPPLIER

OFFICIAL CAPTAIN’S GIFTING SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

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