WINNIPEG, MB – Great moments are born from great opportunity.
The Rady JCC is thrilled to announce NHL legends and former Toronto Maple Leaf teammates Wendel Clark, Doug Gilmour, and Grant Fuhr as its three keynote speakers for the 2024 Rady JCC Ken Kronson Sports Dinner. The 50th annual gala drops the puck at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
“We are reuniting three of the all-time Maple Leaf greats to tell some stories about their time playing together and against each other in the show,” said Al Greenberg, Rady JCC Sports Dinner Chair. “These guys are all buddies, they have trophy cases full of hardware, and will have plenty of fun stories to share during their years in Toronto and with other NHL clubs.”
Wendel Clark was one of the most beloved players to ever wear the Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. The former team captain, his rambunctious playing style, and exceptional talent on the ice endeared him to fans. He began his career in 1985 where was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and was second in voting for the Calder Trophy. Overall, in his career, Clark recorded 330 goals, 234 assists, 564 points, and 1,690 penalty minutes. Clark made hockey fun again in Toronto.
If there is a player who inspires near-hysteria among the Leafs Nation, it is Doug Gilmour. Selected by St. Louis in the seventh round, he began his rookie season in 1983. Nicknamed ‘Killer’ for his intensity, Gilmour played like a man much larger. After five seasons, the Blues traded Gilmour to Calgary, where he won a Stanley Cup. Three seasons later he was traded to Toronto in the biggest deal in league history. In his first full season, he earned 127 points, a Maple Leaf franchise record. Gilmour was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.
An Edmonton Oiler first round draft pick, Grant Fuhr led his team to five Stanley Cup championships. In 1987, he won the Vezina trophy. After he was traded to the Leafs in 1991 for a two-season stint, he joined Dominik Hasek in Buffalo in 1993 and together they won the William Jennings trophy. In 1995, just when he appeared ‘over the hill’, Fuhr signed with the St. Louis Blues, where he played an astonishing 79 games, 76 of them consecutively. Both still stand as single-season records.
Longtime community volunteers and philanthropists Lana and Gregg Maidment will be honoured at the dinner for their decades of commitment and dedication to both the Jewish and greater community.
“Lana and Gregg have built an incredible legacy that stretches far beyond our Winnipeg community,” continued Greenberg. “Their direct impact on all charitable organizations they have been involved with is immeasurable. They’ve touched the lives of tens of thousands of people because of their selflessness.”
Michael Silver and Jason Bonneteau of WPG The Wealth Planning Group as well as Paul Winestock and Danny Childerhouse of Winestock Childerhouse Wealth of RBC Dominion Securities & RBC Private Banking will be Co-Title Sponsors for the not-to-be-missed event of the year.
“Michael and Jason are committed and believe very strongly in our cause,” said Rob Berkowits, Rady JCC Executive Director. “And Paul and Danny continue to be incredible corporate leaders who care deeply in our mission.”
Every single dollar raised at the Sports Dinner supports the Rady JCC’s various initiatives, a not-for-profit community agency providing recreational, cultural, and fitness programs for all age groups to meet the diverse needs of the community-at-large.
“We are non-religious and non-denominational and are open to all,” said Berkowits. “Through our programs and camps, we reach thousands of children a year, helping them to stay active and develop leadership skills. We provide programming for children with disabilities, as well as programming that promote the wellbeing of people living with chronic illnesses or recovering from cancer.”
The evening includes a four-course gala dinner, silent, live, and rainbow auctions. Individual tickets, corporate tables, and sponsorships will be available in late February.
For all Sports Dinner inquiries, please contact:
Zachary Minuk
Director of Development, Partnerships and Communications
Rady JCC
zminuk@radyjcc.com
204.480.6562