Chris Chelios, right, congratulates teammate Joe Murphy after Murphy scored the game and series winning goal for the Chicago Blackhawks in the third overtime period against the Calgary Flames in Calgary, April 24, 1996. (Mike Ridewood/Canadian Press via AP)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Hockey Legend

‘Great place to play’: Former NHLer Chris Chelios excited to visit P.A. again during Sportsman Dinner

Jan 12, 2024 | 12:00 PM

One of the best defensemen in NHL history is coming to Prince Albert later this month.

Chris Chelios will be the guest speaker at the annual Sportsman Dinner happening at the Ches Leach Lounge inside the Art Hauser Centre on Jan. 20.

He joked to paNOW that he has horrible memories of P.A. from back when he was a member of the Moose Jaw Canucks in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).

“We lost twice in Game 7 to the Raiders and what made it worse is that they went on to win a Centennial Cup,” he said.

It wasn’t all bad as Chelios still remembers the bus trips with his old teammates. He explained he also liked playing at P.A.’s Comuniplex, now known as the Art Hauser Centre.

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“Great place to play… it just felt like a professional arena back then,” said Chelios.

When asked what comes to mind when he thinks of Prince Albert hockey, he quickly mentioned one of the best Raiders of all time: Mike Modano. While the two never played together in the NHL, they were teammates during multiple international competitions including the 1998, 2002, and 2006 Olympics.

“He was pretty laid back, didn’t say a lot, a lot of laughing… overall he was pretty quiet, but he showed up to play.”

Chelios also said when it came to talent and resume, Modano is “second to none” when it comes to the greatest American hockey players of all-time.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @princealbertnow