SPORTS FLASHBACK 1998: Cross-Canada skate brings former NHLer to Steinbach

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This article was published 10/06/2023 (759 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Former NHLer Sheldon Kennedy was greeted by 150 fans as he rolled into Steinbach for another stop on his tour across Canada on in-line skates, in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers and signs of abuse and at the same time raise funds for his dream of Anaphe Ranch in B.C. as a healing place for victims.

At the Clearspring mall parking lot, Kennedy signed autographs and visited with Dale Krentz, the only person he knew in Steinbach.

The autograph session followed an official welcome and a reception, which included entertainment and a number of other activities for kids.

Ashley Kehler, one of the event organizers, said the large group of young fans met Kennedy at Reimer Farm Supplies on Highway 12 and walked, cycled, skated and ran along with him into town.

There was an official welcome when they reached the Clearspring mall, with Michelle Sawatzky acting as master of ceremonies.

Activities for the evening included a barbecue, face-painting for children, live entertainment, as well as skateboard and judo demonstrations.

Earlier in the week, Kennedy was welcomed to the province at the Manitoba/Ontario border by provincial cabinet ministers Rosemary Vodrey and Michael Radcliffe and La Verendrye MLA Ben Sveinson.

In January of 1997, Kennedy shocked the Canadian sports world when he came forward with his story of sexual abuse at the hands of his hockey coach and mentor, Graham James.

Kennedy was born in Elkhorn, Manitoba in 1969, and at the age of 15, moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to play ‘AAA’ midget hockey under the guidance of James.

Only a year later, Kennedy moved up into the junior ranks, playing for both the Winnipeg South Blues and the Swift Current Broncos.

In 1988, Kennedy was a fourth-round draft pick by the Detroit Red Wings. His first professional season was split between the Red Wings of the NHL and the AHL’s Adirondak Red Wings.

Kennedy spent the next four seasons bouncing between the AHL and NHL, and after the 1993-94 season, the Winnipeg Jets acquired Kennedy from the Red Wings. Because of the lock-out, Kennedy did not play for the Jets before being picked up in the waiver draft by Calgary.

After two years in Calgary he signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins for the 1996-97 season.

That season was to be Kennedy’s last in the NHL, but he resurfaced in the 1998-99 season with the Manitoba Moose of the International Hockey League and later played for EV Landshut of the German Ice Hockey League.

In 1997 Kennedy took a leave of absence from professional hockey to spend time with his wife and daughter, and had hopes of raising enough funds during his cross-country in-line skating trip to develop Anaphe Ranch as a world-class retreat and treatment centre for victims of abuse.

Kennedy’s cross-country skate would cover 8,150 km and wrap up in Vancouver in October of 1998.

While Kennedy’s efforts raised over $2.3 million, the Kennedy Foundation fell far short of the funds needed to establish the ranch on donated land, and by the the end of 1999, Kennedy abandoned his dream and the Kennedy Foundation’s assets were turned over to the Canadian Red Cross.

Kennedy went on to serve as a spokesperson for violence and abuse prevention programs with the Canadian Red Cross.

He was honoured by Hockey Canada in 2020 with the Order of Hockey in Canada.