McGill alumni reunion in Detroit to see Mike Babcock coach in Stanley Cup finals

MONTREAL – A group of 36 hockey fans, including 11 former McGill University hockey players, are scheduled to hold an impromptu alumni reunion in Detroit on Saturday. They will be flocking from all over North America to the Joe Louis Arena, in support of McGill graduate Mike Babcock, who will be coaching behind the bench for the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals. The best-of-seven series is knotted at 2-2.

Last spring, Babcock became the school's first grad to coach a National Hockey League team to the Cup championship. The 46-year-old native of Saskatoon, Sask., was a two-time all-star rearguard at McGill from 1983 to 1987, where he also served as captain and won the Bobby Bell trophy as team MVP. Babcock is expected to be wearing his red, striped school necktie and owns a 4-1 lifetime record in NHL play when wearing the infamous cravat. He hasn't worn the tie behind the bench since in Game 5 of the 2008 Cup final, a 4-3 triple overtime loss to Pittsburgh on June 2, 2008.

While Babcock is expected to display that his alma "maters" to the North American viewing audience (CBC, RDS, NBC, 8 p.m.), the entourage of McGill fans, which includes six former teammates of Babcock, will be sporting McGill hockey jerseys and include the following former Redmen players:

Mark Reade, originally from Willowdale, Ont., will be flying in from Atlanta. A roommate of Babcock's who also served as a team captain at McGill, Reade earned a B.Com, followed by a masters and then an MBA. After becoming the school's all-time leading scorer, he went on to play pro hockey in England along with Babcock. Reade, who was recruited to McGill in 1983 from the OHL's Kingston Canadiens, is a national sales director for Medtronic, a world leader in medical technology which serves customers and patients in 120 countries.

Paul Barber, a team captain and engineering graduate originally from Kemptville, Ont., is also one of Babcock's former roommates and patrolled the McGill blueline from 1981 to 1986. Based in Fenelon Falls, Ont., Barber designs dream homes and has a number of NHL players on his client list.

Doug Harrison (B.SC '86), originally from Leaskdale, Ont., and another ex-roommate of Babcock, is now an executive vice-president of planning and corporate development with Decoma, a division of Magna International. Harrison, who now resides north of Toronto, was a speedy forward with the Redmen from 1982 to 1986.

Tim Bossy (BA '85), originally from Pierrefonds, Que., is flying in from Chicago, where he is employed as a commercial broker with the Mid-America Real Estate Group. A nephew of former NHL star Mike Bossy, Tim played at left wing for the Redmen from 1980 to 1984.

Alain Robichaud (BA '86) is a native of Trois-Rivières, Que., will be making the trip from Richmond Hill, Ont., where he is employed as a vice-president of operations at Coca Cola Enterprises. After playing in the QMJHL, Robichaud had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Penguins before moving onto McGill, where he played from 1983 to 1986.

Joel Sitak (BA '90), will be travelling from Andover, Mass., where he is the president and chief executive officer of BirdDog Solutions, a leading provider of transportation spend management services. Sitak played defence for McGill from 1986 to 1990.

Jordy Tedford (BA '93), originally from Calgary, was a forward at McGill from 1989 to 1993. He currently resides in Boston, where he is a director of international equity sales at Leerink Swan MedaCorp.

Ken Covo (B.Eng. '82), a native of Beaconsfield, Que., played four seasons at McGill, between 1976 and 1981, served as captain and was a two-time team MVP. An engineer, Covo is the head of research and development for Bauer Hockey.

Patrick Shannon (BA '82, Dip.Ed '83), a resident of Beaconsfield, Que, who was raised in the Town of Mt. Royal, was a smooth-skating forward with the Redmen from 1978 to 1982. He is currently a teacher at Selwyn House, a private boys school in Westmount, Que.

Dr. Gordon Brabant (MDCM '81), a native of Beaconsfield, Que., earned his medical degree while starring on the basketball court for McGill. He is a prominent general surgeon at the Ville Marie Medical & Health Centre in Montreal.

Ken Morin, a native of St. Prosper, Que., just completed his fourth season with the Redmen and is expected to graduate this year with an arts degree, majoring in industrial relations. The 6-foot-1 rearguard served as co-captain this season and helped guide McGill to three division titles in four years.


SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
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Montreal, QC  H2W 1S4
CANADA
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
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www.mcgill.ca/athletics <https://www.mcgill.ca/athletics>