Neepawa’s Royal Bank manager, Jason Epp presented a video and pep talk about the Olympic Torch Relay which will be stopping in Neepawa in January.  RBC Financial and Coca Cola are major sponsors of the Olypmics. Jarrod Franklin of Coca Cola showed a video of past Olympic Torch relays and joked with the crowd, “Coke actually makes money by selling product  as opposed to the Royal Bank who just overcharges us. By the way, don’t drink the Pepsi at the bar, it’s really bad for you.”

Guest speaker was Toronto Maple Leaf Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler. Sittler, who holds the NHL record for most points in a game, six goals and four assists, entertained the enthusiastic crowd with stories of his hockey career. Unlike many hockey heroes, Sittler uses a clean family oriented style with lots of humour. He also got very serious when he talked about losing his wife to cancer eight years ago and how tough times can be. Sittler baited the crowd with the usual banter about the Toronto-Montreal rivalry as most Canadian sports crowds can be divided along those same Leafs versus Habs lines.

 In addition to the silent auction, Sittler’s sweater fetched $2000 by live auction, a couple of framed prints and Sittler hockey card donated by Town of Neepawa Councillor Monty Simon were also sold by live auction.

Earlier in the day Sittler attended an autograph session at the Yellowhead Arena sponsored by the Neepawa Lions, who donated $2000 towards the event. Cathcart said, “Darryl Sittler was an absolute gentlemen, he signed autographs and he even went out on the ice with one of the teams for a team photo because they weren’t going to be done their game before the session was over.”

Over 200 people attended the event and the proceeds will go half-and-half to the Neepawa Natives hockey team and towards the four seasons washroom/changeroom planned to be constructed at the soccer fields and outdoor skating rink located in The Flats.