Outdoor skate conjures memories for Maple Leafs' Brendan Shanahan, Craig Berube
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The Maple Leafs’ annual outdoor practice on Monday at Prince of Wales park in Etobicoke held a special connection for team president Brendan Shanahan.
Growing up in Mimico, Shanahan said he often had practices at the rink.
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Outdoor skate conjures memories for Maple Leafs' Brendan Shanahan, Craig Berube Back to video
“It’s hard to come here and not think about my dad (Donal) bringing me here and in 1974 and 1975,” Shanahan said. “It hasn’t changed that much to be honest with you, the inside of the dressing room. What a full circle it has been. I feel really blessed to be able to bring the Maple Leafs here.”
Before several hundred enthusiastic and cold fans, the Leafs split up into teams and had a three-on-three tournament, spending about an hour giving the faithful a once-a-year treat.
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Led by captain Auston Matthews, Team Wendel Clark emerged as the winners.
“(Coach Craig Berube) said something about the losing team has to buy us lunch, but who knows if we’ll ever see that,” Matthews said with a smile.
For Berube, the outdoor experience brought to mind his childhood in Calahoo, Alta., as well.
“(At ages) seven, eight, maybe nine, we had an outdoor rink in Calahoo before we built an indoor rink,” Berube said. “Played in outdoor rinks quite a bit in my whole area, in the league we played in. A lot of cold feet.
“It’s great to do something like this. It’s a fun day, the guys have fun with it. The support you get here in Toronto is fantastic, so it makes the event a lot more fun. A lot of people out here cheering. It’s a good day for the guys.”
None of the injured Leafs forwards — including John Tavares, Matthew Knies and Max Pacioretty — took part in the outdoor practice, but Berube said the group was on the ice at the Ford Performance Centre.
Specifically regarding Tavares, Berube said the veteran, who is nursing a lower-body injury, could join the team later in the week for practice “but that’s guessing a little bit.”
Later, Tavares took to the ice at Prince of Wales park with his sons.
Goaltenders Joseph Woll and Matt Murray also didn’t participate and were replaced by workout goalies Andrew D’Agostini and Brendan Bonello.
“Great weather, a little chilly, but the ice was good,” defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “We enjoyed it and it was cool to have our fans out here as well.
“I think it’s a good change in the schedule. It’s a long season, it’s a grind, and you take practice seriously, but days like today are a lot of fun. They help break up the monotony. It’s a good chance for our guys to have some fun.”
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