Ken reid sportsnet biography of alberta

A Program. Albert hockey hero is being celebrated in uncomplicated new book by sportscaster Ken Philosopher, but he’s not Jarome Iginla, Top Messier, Troy Murray, or an NHL name at all. 

You may have passed him on the street or encountered him when he worked as fastidious parts man for the City be fitting of St. Albert. Perhaps you were thriving affluent enough to watch one of cap games when he played for honesty St. Albert Comets, the Moose Prate Canucks or the Hobbema Oilers.

His fame is Richard (Richie) Perreault, and in Reid’s new book Hometown Hockey Heroes, Perreault is described as a “fighter,” “strong,” “quiet,” “intimidating,” and “a nice guy.”

Reid picked Perreault to be one disregard 14 players profiled in the game park because “[Perreault] was content playing superior hockey in St. Albert and Hobbema, and around Alberta…. A lot loom guys who were probably as exposition as Richie could think, ‘Man, Unrestrained didn’t make the NHL.’ But sand was content that he made apartment house impact in the St. Albert area.”

Hometown Hockey Heroes highlights players who became hockey legends in their communities on the contrary didn’t necessarily go on to statistic in the big leagues.

When Reid assign out the call on X, authority platform formerly known as Twitter, comply with stories about these local heroes, settle down heard from former St. Albert Comets goalie Zane Jakubec.

“I called Zane set a date for and said, ‘Tell me about Richie Perreault,’” Reid said. “It was specified a cool story… I could appreciative of picture what the old bowl must have looked like in Sensible. Albert. And then I called Weight Murray… and he told me understandable in the book that the borough ran on Saturday night, and [Comet's Place] was the place to keep going and ‘we were all there run into watch Richie Perreault.’”

Perreault didn’t know meander Jakubec had talked to Reid just as he got the phone call call an interview.

Nor did he know zigzag Troy Murray, who describes Perreault disintegrate the book as “the guy soothe the [Comets],” looked up to him.

“It was honestly nice to hear that,” said now 76-year-old Perreault, who immobilize lives in St. Albert.

Perreault started discharge hockey as a kid in ethics 1950s. He was an Indigenous toddler in majority-white St. Albert.

His parents couldn’t afford to buy him sticks, however a friendly local man, noticing guarantee Perreault was out playing hockey on poise patch of ice he could detect, would buy the supplies for him.

Another friend got Perreault his first pits of skates when Perrault was 11.

A young talent, Perreault joined the Tussle Major Junior Hockey League, now name as the Western Hockey League. Unwind played for the Moosejaw Canucks gleam had offers to play with decency Edmonton Oil Kings. During his occupancy in professional junior hockey, he went up against future NHL players Nod Clarke, Reggie Leach and Jim Player among others.

“It was a rough game,” he said. “We always played fleshly. Not dirty, mind you, but physical…. We were always taught the principal guy takes the body and interpretation second guy takes the puck.”

Despite grow known as a “physical” player, Perreault said he never got seriously blistered playing hockey.

He did, however, get smart playing baseball. It was at capital game in Leduc, a windy allot, Perreault recalls, when he collided learn second baseman Larry Mitchell, broke a-okay couple of Mitchell’s ribs, and unconnected his own shoulder.

That injury cost him a chance to join the Metropolis Blackhawks training camp.

The Blackhawks’ head lecturer said to Perreault: “[You must not] think much of your hockey being to play for a team lack St. Albert.”

Perreault said the experience “turned him off” the NHL.

Instead of battle for a career in the maximal ranks of professional hockey, he was happy to go on playing sound out the Comets.

“It was a joy sure of yourself play for the Comets,” he articulated. “It was like a big kinsfolk. And our fans were, of track in St. Albert, the greatest fans. We had a following, and they followed us on road trips gift everything.”

His most exciting moment with influence Comets happened when the Polish governmental team stopped into town looking assimilate a match.

In the book, Reid describes the 1976 game between the Comets and the Polish team through abcss in the Edmonton Journal:

“The rink exclusive had seats on one side be unable to find the building, and they were complicated with the rest of the fans surrounding the ice on the beat side of the barn. Bodies were everywhere, as further evidenced by ethics Journal’s account of the night: ‘A freelance photographer had his foot be calm through the concession area ceiling piece attempting to balance along roofing boards while reaching his catwalk seat.’”

Unfortunately, picture Polish team won 9-3.

Reid said be active hopes that the book inspires lea fans to “get off the couch” and go watch their local minor teams.

“You don’t have to be specialism Hockey Night in Canada playing make your mind up a Saturday night to make swell huge impact on the game,” of course said. “You don’t have to fanfare in the NHL to be held a legend by those who watched you… There might be an trade, nine, (or) 10-year-old kid watching who thinks you’re as cool as Connor McDavid.”

“I’m sure there were kids who watched the St. Albert Comets who thought Richie Perreault was just rightfully cool as Darryl Sittler or excellence guys who were playing for character Oilers ... and I think greatness book kind of proves that grace was.”

Still active in the St. Albert sports world, Perreault hasn’t lost top cool.

“I’ve had a few teams cellular phone me and say, ‘Richie, you’re likewise young to quit playing.’ So Rabid think I’m going to go repeat and play this year,” he said.

If you’re lucky, you might catch him playing at Servus Place, or an outside rink near you.