It’s expected that more than 40,000 attended the NHL Winter Classic in St. Louis but for those living in the Pacific Northwest, this one is extra special.

We get to see the stars of yester-year with names like Hull, Gretzky, Pronger, MacInnis, Brodeur and even Bellingham resident Garth Butcher, who is originally from Regina.

Say what you will the stars of “yesteryear” haven’t lost a step and probably understand the game better now than when they were playing.

Simply put, it’s not just about the money now, but more of an appreciation for meeting up with rivals that have now become friends.

Garth as many know is a Canuck Alumni player and still takes part in regular outings as long as it meets with his schedule, which many do.

He has helped grow the minor hockey program in Bellingham and surrounding area for a number of years, but it’s not all that easy.

This trip he not only attended but attended with his Son Matt who has become close to our Family.

He is a personal friend of Eric whom he played minor hockey with in the area and together they have become more than friends.

Matt attended Eric’s wedding last fall and flew in from Toronto and now he (Matt) invited Eric to the Outdoor Winter Classic in St. Louis to take in the events.

Garth wasn’t the biggest player in the league, but he patrolled the Blue Line for the Canucks as the team enforcer for almost 10 years.

In 1991 he was traded along with Dan Quinn to St. Louis for Cliff Ronning, Sergio Momesso, Geoff Courtnall and Robert Dirk and eventually went on to be the Blues Captain.

One issue that might have been a concern to the event was the weather as it’s better than what we are currently experiencing with the snow and mixed rain.

Some of the greatest players in Blues history will be on display at the game, including Hall of Famers Brett Hull, Bernie Federko, Al MacInnis, Chris Pronger, Adam Oates and Peter Stastny.

The All-time great Wayne Gretzky will also play, despite only  spending half a season with the Blues.

One could call this a rivalry especially since the Blues eliminated the Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs last spring, but it is more intense in the previous decades.

Interesting to note that when the Canucks hosted “Tough Guy Night celebrating their 40th year, first Garth had his car broken into in Richmond while visiting his Daughter.

As for tough guy’s he is second on the Canucks all-time penalty minute list with 1,668 many of which were for fighting the likes of Dave Brown, Phil Bourque and Perry Turnbull.

While at the game he purchased 50/50 tickets  for $20 when the vender dropped by the alumni suite during the first period.

The 18 green tickets were somehow tangoed in  his pocket until the numbers were called late in the third period.

Garth mentioned “I was standing there talking to Kearnsy (Dennis Kearns) having a conversation and my wife and kids let me know that the numbers were up on the board, so I pulled them out and handed them over and I said ‘here, I’m pretty sure I won so just take a quick peek.”

The guy in the next box mentioned to everyone in his box that he was four numbers off, so it must be someone from our box and to the surprise of everyone – I won.

For a guy from the Bellingham area who gives so much to charity it’s great to see him take part in such an event and better yet share it with Family and Eric.