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Habs alumni still love wearing the Canadiens jersey

Patrice Brisebois, Keith Acton still having fun years after retiring as active NHLers.

FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION – Patrice Brisebois had his moment in the sun 24 years ago, capturing his one and only Stanley Cup as a member of the upstart Montreal Canadiens.

Still fit at 46, the 18-year NHL veteran is eight years removed from his final game with the Habs, the team with whom he made 896 of his 1,009 career big-league appearances.

The lure of the ice is strong, which is why he spends a few nights each winter traveling the country, pulling on the world-famous Canadiens jersey alongside eight or nine fellow alumni, raising money for charities across the land.

Their latest stop, on Friday night, came in Fort William First Nation, where a crowd of 200 or so watched Brisebois, Stephane Richer, Keith Acton, Jocelyn Lemieux and Richard Sevigny make easy work of the Law Enforcement Bulldogs, downing their gracious opponent 11-5.

“We’re having so much fun playing together, doing some charity games. Everybody is a winner because as a player, I keep myself in shape. We’re raising money. It’s nice to see people, we’re having a good time and it gives us a chance to do what we love the most,” said Brisebois, who finished his NHL career with 98 goals and 322 assists, the Canadiens No. 2 pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

Pulling that Montreal jersey over his head still feels special, he said.

“I was raised and born in Montreal and I saw so many Stanley Cup championships in Montreal. In ’93 it was my turn and it was a dream come true. It’s always special to put on that jersey.”

Acton, who wore a toque in place of a helmet on Friday night, was also a draft pick of the Habs, going 103rd overall in 1978 after a stellar three-year career with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, where he briefly skated alongside none other than Wayne Gretzky – who he’d later win a Stanley Cup with in Edmonton in 1988.

Now 58, Acton scored 36 goals and collected 52 assists with Montreal in 1981-82, but his stay with the Canadiens was short, dealt with Mark Napier to the Minnesota North Stars in return for Bobby Smith. His career would take him to Philadelphia, Washington and New York, where he wrapped up his 1,023-game career with the Islander in 1994.

The Habs still hold a special place in his heart, which is why he loves suiting up in alumni games.

“The Canadiens have a tremendous following across the country of Canada, especially in Northern Ontario. It’s a privilege for us to come out and play games in these communities and raise proceeds for some many causes and charities,” Acton said.

“We were all proud to wear the Montreal Canadiens emblem and we’re just as proud to wear it in these games as we were when we played for the team. And it gives us a bit of a hockey fix as well.”

Also suiting up for Montreal was local talent Steve Collins, better known for a record-setting ski-jumping career that took him to the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.

Collins, a lifelong Montreal fan, said it was a blast trading skis for skates.

“It feels good to be out there with these guys. I’m having a lot of fun,” he said.



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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