Hockey legends and music stars in Délı̨nę this weekend

This weekend, Délı̨nę is hosting a star-studded celebration of the Sahtu Region community being known for 200 years as the Birthplace of Hockey with a hockey game on Great Bear Lake featuring NHL alumni and entertainment for all ages.

The 200th Anniversary All-Star Winter Classic celebration is scheduled for March 19th to 22^nd, with Lanny McDonald and Bryan Trottier listed as coaches for the Saturday game, with teams stated to include Dave Babych, Eric Lindros, Wendel Clark, Ryan Getzlaf, Tiger Williams, Doug Gilmour and more.

Why 200 years? It was in the winter of 1825 when explorer Sir John Franklin’s diary records that his men played ice sports very similar to what we now call hockey.

The community has been featured in Quaker Oats commercials and on Hockey Night in Canada as the site where the sport originated.

In addition to hockey, the weekend’s entertainment line-up is stated to include Tom Cochrane, Aaron Pritchett, and Chad Brownlee.

There will be a community breakfast and dinner, $30,000 fishing derby and Skidoo raffle, a $15,000 Bingo and Casino Night and tours of the remote chartered community of 575 people.

Interested in attending? Flights only were available for community members, with lodgings needed to be secured on their own.

Apart from that, there is an ice road connecting to the Mackenzie Valley winter road.

An easier way to take in the game action will be to catch a live-stream, details of which are still being worked out.

Also, a related Yellowknife gala on Friday will feature the NHL alumni and some musical guests.

Promoters state that NHL alumni will be there and entertainment will be provided by Canadian rock legend (and serious hockey fan) Tom Cochrane and NWT musician Leela Gilday.

Tickets are not cheap, with singles at $1,000 and a full table of eight costing $7,500.

Sponsorships for the hockey game top out at $250,000.