NHL greats Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour coming to Brampton for special fundraiser game

Current and former NHL stars will be lacing up their skates this summer for Hockey Night in Brampton.

The charity hockey game, to be held on August 23 at Brampton’s CAA Centre, will see all-star coaches Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour lead a team of hockey legends in support of William Osler Health System’s youth mental health services as well as the new Brampton hospital.

The City says youth mental health services continue to experience a surge in patient volume, with more than 28,000 adolescents in Ontario currently waitlisted to receive mental health care.

Mayor Patrick Brown says he’s “incredibly excited” for the return of Hockey Night in Brampton.

“We need to get our second hospital built and this fundraiser will help us do that. Come see some of your favourite current NHL stars and hockey legends go toe to toe while we work towards supporting a critical healthcare need in our community,” said Mayor Brown.

Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour are both household names in hockey — Clark was drafted first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, leading to a successful 15-year career in which he played for the Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks. In 793 career NHL games, Clark recorded 564 points and 1690 penalty minutes.

Meanwhile, Gilmour is known for the intense style of play he had on the ice. Starting with the St. Louis Blues in 1983, he was later traded to Calgary, then after three more seasons was traded to Toronto in the biggest deal in league history.  In his first full season, he earned 127 points, a Maple Leaf franchise record, and won the Frank Selke trophy for best defensive forward.

The City says further team announcements will be made in the coming weeks as more players are confirmed.

Tickets are available now, and donations can also be made directly to William Osler Health Foundation.

“This is a transformational time for Osler, with plans underway to turn Peel Memorial into Brampton’s new hospital to help increase hospital and health care capacity in our community—including space for new and enhanced mental health services,” said Ken Mayhew, President & CEO of William Osler Health System Foundation.

“As Osler Foundation works to raise funds needed to help build and equip the new Peel Memorial, events like Hockey Night in Brampton are vital to helping us meet the growing need for care in our city.”

Hockey Night in Brampton was first launched in 2019 by Mayor Patrick Brown, and in its first year it helped raise $411,000 in support of the cardiology program at Brampton Civic Hospital.