Reggie Leach, Bret Hart headline duelling dinners
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- Published on Thursday, June 18, 2015
By Eoin Devereux
The Neepawa Banner
It’ll be hip checks versus hip tosses later this year as Neepawa and Minnedosa have unveiled new details on their annual sports dinners. Neepawa’s Leisure Services Department has formally confirmed that former NHLer Reggie Leach will headline its seventh annual Sports Dinner on Oct, 24. Meanwhile, the Minnedosa & District Recreation Commission has unveiled the speaker for its event, as professional wrestling Hall of Famer, Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, will headline their sportsman’s dinner, which is also scheduled for Oct, 24.
Drafted by the Boston Bruins with the third overall pick in the 1970 NHL Draft, Reggie Leach is most well known for his time with the Philadelphia Flyers, winning a Stanley Cup with the club in 1975. He spent 13 seasons in the National Hockey League, accumulating 666 points in 934 games. The dinner will also include a Don Cherry impersonator to entertain the crowd.
Amanda Novak, leisure services manager for the Town of Neepawa, said they are very pleased with booking Leach.
“Past sports dinner have been well received and have become a greatly anticipated evening for many people across the region,” said Novak. “In previous years, athletes like Jon Montgomery and Darryl Sittler have been very good draws for us and we feel that Reggie is an athlete of interest with a local connection out of Riverton, who will continue that tradition.”
As for Minnedosa’s speaker, Bret Hart is a five time WWE World champion and the first wrestler ever to win professional wrestling’s “top six”: WWE World tag team, WWE Intercontinental, WWE World Heavyweight, WCW World tag team, WCW United States championship and WCW World Heavyweight titles.
Vern May, Economic Development Officer for the Town of Minnedosa said quite a stir has been created with word that the “hitman” is scheduled to hit town
“We announced some details on social media and received about 12,000 hits on the website so far. It’s one of the biggest items of interest we’ve ever posted online,” said May. “We’ve also received many phone call from across the region from people wanting to learn more about tickets.”
As for both events occurring on the same evening in October, both Novak and May are optimistic that the vast differences between the keynote speakers will ensure the two events don’t cannibalize one another for attendees.
“I believe that our evening is a different enough draw to ensure that both dinners will be able to co-exist,” said Novak. May agreed and added that “Hosting both events on the same day is unfortunate but with our guest speaker it will be different enough that there should not be any concern. Historically, there are not many individuals from Neepawa who attend our dinner and vice versa, so I believe both events will be very successful.”
The seventh annual Sports Dinner in Neepawa takes place Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Yellowhead Centre Hall. Cocktails at 5 p.m. with the dinner scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 each. If interested in purchasing a ticket, contact Amanda Novak at (204)-476-7614 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . As for Minnedosa, more details on the event will be announced over the summer.
