2016 Mike Keane Celebrity Hockey Classic
March 23, 2016 3:10 pmThe 6th annual Mike Keane Celebrity Hockey Classic saw the return of past NHL greats to Winnipeg. Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Joe Nieuwendyk and 13 other NHL Alumni returned to the YWG to be drafted and then take to the ice for a full day of hockey and locker room stories.
16 local teams were busy fundraising during the weeks leading up to the tournament for their chance to be the top fundraising team and win first selection at the draft night. For the second year in a row team 24/7 InTouch was our top fundraising team with over $110,000 in donations! Ace Burpee emceed the draft night where Brad May was the first overall pick. The draft night wrapped up with teams eager to play with and against some of their childhood heroes!
The tournament day included 3 games where players were treated to a professional hockey experience complete with dressing room attendants and massage therapists. The tournament wrapped up with a final game between top fundraising team, 24/7 InTouch, and the NHL Pros. That evening, the top 3 fundraising teams were invited to Moxie’s MTS Centre where they had the opportunity to mingle with the NHL Alumni.
Thanks to the fundraising efforts of all the teams, the 2016 Mike Keane Celebrity Classic raised over $330,000 for Project 11, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy & Continuity Care. Thank you to the volunteers from Continuity Care, and the St. James Hockey Academy as well as the organizing committee for another successful Mike Keane Celebrity Hockey Classic!