A group of former NHLers headlined by former Winnipeg Jet forward Dale Hawerchuk appeared in an exhibition game last week at Farrell Agencies Arena in an effort organizers say they hope will help regenerate some interest in Senior hockey.
Mervin Bodnarchuk who both manages and coaches the team that Hawerchuk, skated on, said bringing together a senior-level club with some professional experience would be a good way to get an idea of what its acceptance would be like amongst local hockey fans in Yorkton.
"The idea is to put together a bunch of guys, some with NHL experience to tour around (the country) and play."
During a media session just behind the players' bench, Bodnarchuk dubbed his team "the Harlem Globetrotters of hockey."
He added that it probably would have been ideal to have planned the game so that it would have been held in April or perhaps earlier but pointed to the success of the Yorkton Jr. 'A' Terriers over their tremendous playoff run and knew there was no way he'd get ice time during playoff time.
Bodnarchuk acknowledged that the fan turnout wasn't what he hoped it would be and added that with the game falling on the same night as a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs, his game was going to take a beating in terms of attendance.
"I take full responsibility for this," he acknowledged, adding that he doesn't know if he'll be successful in putting together a senior hockey team in Yorkton for next season.
He also told reporters that Weyburn has been trying to do the same thing he's doing and said they haven't had much luck.
During a break in the action, an exhausted Hawerchuk said that it's always going to be difficult to infiltrate a strong hockey market that's already been able to boast a championship-contending Junior 'A' team.
However, he also mentioned that it's something that will never be completely out of the picture.
"It's always tough," he says of trying to add another team in a city that's already got a lively scene, closing out with the interesting remark of "but if you promote it right..."
Hawerchuk also said it's "usually entertaining" hockey and getting an official team up and running is probably just a matter of "getting everything in order."
Once we're here, people enjoy it," he said of the reaction they usually get when they visit different cities and towns.
Bodnarchuk wasn't pleased with the reception during the team's stop in Yorkton but noted that it could have been better if his timing for it was better, saying he didn't realize that the game would have competition from the NHL playoffs.
"The game is real good and fast, but the timing is bad tonight-that's my fault."
Bodnarchuk and Hawerchuk have been working together on the senior game since 2005 and they are still in need of sponsors to help make things work.
For the Painted Hand ex-NHL Celebrity Classic game at Yorkton last week, Bodnarchuk was able to draw the attention of the local casino which had its company logo featured on the jerseys worn by Hawerchuk's side.
Hawerchuk, who was a number one overall draft pick selection of the now-defunct Winnipeg Jets, was asked that night about the possibility of the franchise returning to the eastern-Manitoba city and said he thought the future looks very promising in the city who's population is over 600,000.
"One day it'll be back. Winnipeg is a viable market. The demographics have changed."
Hawerchuk added that other Canadian cities such as Halifax should be granted an NHL franchise too.
He was taken first overall in the 1981 entry draft by the Jets and was traded three time prior to retirement, making stops in Buffalo, St. Louis, and Philadelphia.
Hawerchuk first picked up hockey at the age of two and began playing competitive hockey at age four.
