“HALL OF FAMER TO HEADLINE SPORTSMAN’S DINNER”

A former Stanley Cup winner with the New York Islanders and veteran Canadian television sportscaster headline the list of head table guests for the 2002 Brandon Wheat Kings’ Sportsman’s Dinner to be held on Saturday, February 2nd in the Keystone Centre’s UCT Pavillion.

Inducted into Hockey’s Hall of Fame in 1991, Mike Bossy was one of the greatest players of his era. Not only did the Montreal native help the Islanders win four consecutive Stanley Cups in the early eighties, he continues to hold the NHL record for most fifty or more goal seasons in his career, with nine.

A veteran of over 20 years in the broadcast business, Mark Hebscher has done just about everything imaginable as a radio and television sportscaster, covering every major North American sporting event, from the Super Bowl to the Kentucky Derby.

Tables of eight are currently available at the Wheat King office or by calling 726-3535. You can also purchase individual tickets for $65 each. Proceeds from the dinner will go to the hockey club’s Scholarship Fund. This year’s master of ceremonies is the host of CJOB’S Prime Time Sports Geoff Currier.

The fifteenth player chosen in the 1977 National Hockey League, Bossy and linemates Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies soon became one of the most potent “line combinations” in league history. In his first season, Bossy scored an all time rookie record of 53 goals and chalked up 92 total points to capture the Calder Trophy and the rest as they say is history.

During his illustrious ten year NHL career, the former Laval National scored 573 goals and 1126 points in 752 games. In addition to winning the Calder Trophy, Bossy took home the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the playoff Most Valuable Player in ’82 and the Lady Byng (Most Sportsmanlike) in ’83, ’84 and ’86. A five-time First Team NHL all star, he was a member of two Canada Cup teams, scoring 20 points including thirteen goals in 15 games.

Famous for his weekly Hebsy awards that feature the best of sports bloopers, Mark combines a passion for sports with the ability to take one step back and have a good laugh.

Rounding out the list of speakers is Brantford, Ontario comedian Gord Paynter. As well as regular appearances on the Yuk Yuk’s comedy circuit, Gord has been a featured act at Montreal’s “Just for Laughs” comedy festival and on the Comedy Network’s “Open Mike with Mike Bullard”. Much of his humor is derived from the fact that he lost his eyesight at age 22. His unique style of comedy surprises, delights and never fails to leave the audience laughing.