Champions Game Has ECAC Hockey Flavor

Paul Stewart, ECAC Hockey Director of Officiating, donned a Quebec Nordiques sweater under his referee sweater during the Champions Alumni Game in Quebec City. Photo by Steve Deschenes/Le Soleil

QUEBEC CITY -- Current ECAC Hockey Director of Officiating Paul Stewart, former Harvard alums Mark Fusco and Scott Young, and Rensselaer alum Bobby Farrelly were among a group of hockey stars particpating in an IIHF Champions Alumni Game Thursday, May 15 at the Colisée Pepsi.

The event, which is a remake of a similar game during the 2007 World Championship in Moscow, pitted the World Stars versus Team Gazprom, headlined by a group of former Russian standouts.

Team Gazprom claimed victory in a game tied 7-7 after regulation in a penalty shootout when Gazprom vice president and president of SKA St. Petersburg Alexander Medvedev beat Rensselaer alum Bob Farrelly, and all three World Stars - Jim Bassille, and IIHF Hall of Fame inductees Angela James and Cammi Granato - got stopped by Maxim Mikhailovsky.

"I think everybody was happy, and the fans in the stands were very happy," said Russian legend Valeri Kamensky after the game.

"It's a good experience, it's nice to see good friends, and being back in Quebec has been a lot of fun. I have so many memories of the team, and how the club took care of me and supported me. I had a lot of injuries when I was here. It was a little emotional to be back," he said.

Stewart, a long-time NHL referee and player, officiated the contest as referee. Stewart enjoyed a homecoming at the event, having played professionally with the Quebec Nordiques. Stewart sported a Nordiques jersey under his referee sweater during the contest.

Hockey greats from six countries were represented, including Quebec City native and current Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) head coach Patrick Roy. The well-known former goalie of the Montreal Canadiens and the Colorado Avalanche changed positions and played as a skater. Another well-known player in Quebec City was former NHL forward Mats Naslund.

Also part of the World Stars were, among others, the six 2008 IIHF Hall of Fame inductees: Granato, Geraldine Heaney, James, Philippe Bozon, Igor Larionov and Art Berglund (as the honorary team manager). The team was complemented by Blackberry tycoon Balsillie, well-known for his attempt to buy an NHL franchise. Like last year, coaching legend Scotty Bowman headlined the coaching staff. Other coaches included Lou Vairo, Heaney, and Barry Smith.

World Stars roster: Goalies: Sean Burke (CAN), Farrelly (USA). Skaters: Glenn Anderson (CAN), Balsillie (CAN), Philippe Bozon (FRA), Doug Brown (USA), Ray Ferraro (USA), Fusco (USA), Granato (USA), Raimo Helminen (FIN), Jyrki Lumme (FIN), James (CAN), Jari Kurri (FIN), Igor Larionov (RUS), Vladimir Malakhov (RUS), Naslund (SWE), Roy (CAN), Esa Tikkanen (FIN), Young (USA).

The team of Gazprom, the world's largest gas extractor, is touring around the world and was bolstered by Russian legends Vyacheslav Fetisov, Kamensky, Vladimir Lutchenko and Alexander Yakushev.

Joining Stewart as a referee was IIHF President and former referee René Fasel.