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For
as long as they can remember, the “boys” in the photo have gathered to
take part in the Annual Valley East Men’s League Slo Pitch Tournament
(known to many as the Barn Dance Tournament), taking time to enjoy a few
holes of golf at the Grill Marks Bistro, Golf & Conference Centre the day before the competition begins. This is something
that they look forward to all year long and they have no plans on breaking
the tradition any time soon.
From the left we have, Andrew Brunette, Al Chenier, Bob Simoneau, Brian
Savard, Steve Fournier, Scott Jeanveau, Rob Fournier, and Dave Ballantyne.
All of the guys grew up in
Valley East
, playing all sorts of
minor sports and are following their own paths through life as adults.
Just a few days before this photo was taken, Andrew Brunette, shown
on the right lining up a chip off the first green, signed a new three-year
$7 million contract with the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League.
The 35-year old
Valley East
native will be
returning to the club where he played three seasons from 2001 to 2004 and
ranks third on the franchise career list in assists, fifth in points and
seventh in goals.
He
spent the past three seasons in
Colorado
where he scored 70
goals and 135 assists for 205 points. He now has career totals of 191
goals and 358 assists for 549 points in 788 NHL games.
After signing Brunette, Minnesota Wild general manager, Doug Risebrough,
who stated that he never should have let Andrew go in 2004, commented, "Andrew
is a consistent offensive performer and an excellent teammate who helped
create the culture of our team. We are better, on the ice and in the
dressing room, with him back. Not often do you get the chance to correct a
mistake."
Andrew Brunette is the current leader in the NHL Ironman competition,
having played close to 600 consecutive games without an injury. No other
current player has played as many games in a row, a true testament to his
durability.
Andrew Brunette is already a member of the Valley East Sports Hall of
Fame, having been one of the first inductees in the Professional Category
in 1998.
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| In the photo
above, Andrew displays the form that demonstrates why he has chosen hockey
as a profession.
All joking aside, this is
one young man who has earned the respect, not only of his fellow NHL
colleagues, but also more importantly of his long-time friends who welcome
the opportunity to spend some quality time hitting the links or running
the bases on the diamond with a man who is putting Valley East on the map
around the world. During the 2008 Valley East Sports Hall of Fame
Ceremonies, Andrew received a standing ovation from the crowd when
introduced in recognition of the contributions he has made to his home
town since becoming a professional athlete. Everyone in
Valley East
wishes Andrew Brunette all
the best as he continues his career in the National Hockey League. |
