News | DrumhellerMail

Flames shine at alumni game

    A packed house at the Drumheller Memorial Arena affirms the Alumni Calgary Flames are still stars wherever they go.
    It also shows the Badlands Community Centre has strong support from area residents.
    There was standing room only last Wednesday night as an all star team of Drumheller hockey players took on a squad of ‘forever Flames’ that included Theoren Fleury, Jim Peplinski, Jamie Macoun and the unmistakable Lanny McDonald.
    Dave Powell organized the event at Drumheller Memorial Arena. He had trouble putting into words how he felt about the event.
    "I am ecstatic about the way things went,” said Powell.

He said the Flames organization, from the first conversations with Jim Peplinski, right up to the day of the event, were very supportive.
The Flames freely interacted with fans at the arena and at the meet and greet directly after the game. Never turning down a request from a fan for an autograph, or to pose for a photo, they were accessible from start to finish. There was a flurry around Fleury of jerseys, pennants and copies of his autobiography Playing With Fire, all waiting for his autograph.

    On the ice, they provided exciting action for the fans. At times an all star team, at times sporting Harlem Globetrotter-style showmanship. Gary Chambers, who scored the first goal for the Drumheller team received a pie in the face for his troubles. Vocal coaching from Lanny McDonald kept the audience in stitches throughout the match.
    Even with the showmanship, there was no question the players had not lost a step and could turn on their A-game at the drop of a puck.
    Tony Lacher, co-chair of the Badlands Community Facility Steering Committee, said the event was just what they needed to kick off the fundraising campaign.
    “We wanted to fill the arena. More than anything we wanted to see a good crowd, and that is the energy we needed to get the project off on the right foot,” said Lacher.

    Mayor Bryce Nimmo echoed the sentiment.
    “What struck me was the groundswell of people. When you see the number of people going full blast like this, it can only get better as time goes on,” "People are going to see this happen, (the community facility), and it will be good for our town.”
    Nimmo praised the strength of the organizers who put so much time into the event and was appreciative to EnCana and Stacy Knull. EnCana jumped in first to start the fundraising efforts by donating $500,000 to the cause.
    Peplinski also recognized the organizers at the end of the game.
    “Thanks for bringing us into play. For us guys, we just like to come out and play, and when you have people who are doing good things for the community, it just makes it that much more fun,” he said.
    This is just the start for the Badlands Community Facility. The next day, on Thursday, November 12, ground was broken on the Badlands Community Facility site. Next Wednesday and Thursday, November 18 and 19, is the Drumheller Rotary Radio Auction. The proceeds from this event will be directed to the Badlands Community Facility Project also.

Veteran served with Military Police

    Sergeant Major 2nd Class Joseph Asquin joined the service in 1946 at the age of 15.
    His time was served with the military police. He spent several years in Korea and Japan.
    “I remember some of my crew and I pulled three trees together to build an observation post where I sat to observe no mans land, next thing I knew out of no where there was a row of Korean children walking our way and then a row of women. Behind them was a row of Korean soldiers who opened fire. The Americans came with their planes and I ended up being shot in my leg,” said Asquin.
    Asquin also spent time in Egypt where he saw ships that were sunk intentionally in the Suez Canal.
    “I was there when they sunk those ships in the Suez Canal, there were a lot of them,” said Asquin.
    Approximately 40 ships were intentionally sunk in the Suez Canal to block shipping lanes, afterward a truce was arranged and the Canal reopened.
    Asquin was then sent back to Japan and Korea where he carried out the remainder of his time with the Military Police.
    Asquin came back to Drumheller where he was born and has remained here since then.
Joseph’s father Jean Pierre Asquin along with a blacksmith built the Little Church out on Dinosaur trail, one of Drumheller’s historical landmarks.
    Joeseph Asquin would rather not think back to those times.
    “They take care of me now, my medications are all paid for and I receive my money every month. I am happy about that,”
    Asquin will be laying a wreath for Korean Veterans on Remembrance Day, something he does every year.
    Lest we forget, Lest we forget.

Drumheller Honour Roll now online

    Reg Bennett’s work to bring the stories and history of those who served in armed conflict for Canada have reached a larger audience .
    The Mail brought readers the story of Bennett in its August 5, 2009 edition. Bennett has produced so far 17 Honour roll books for rural communities, largely in Alberta. He has presented them to the communities, either through the area Legion or to libraries or the local museum. In all he has researched 766 names.
    He was inspired to do the work while researching his great uncle, who is also his namesake. While taking in a Remembrance Day Ceremony in Drumheller he was struck by the incomplete nature of the Honour Roll used in the ceremony. For many of those served, listed was often only a last name, sometimes a first initial, and rarely a rank.
    He set at working on his first Honour Roll Book for the Town of Drumheller. He presented it to the Drumheller Legion 10 years ago to the day, on this Remembrance Day.
    Now his work reflects the service of men and women in 30 communities. This year alone he completed and presented Honour Roll books to the communities of Delburne (Ardley, Elnora) Wainwright, Oyen , Youngstown, Hanna, Alliance (Galihad), Lougheed, Provost (Czar) and Sedgewick. Currently he is working on books for Carbon, Strathmore, Cochrane and Three Hills.
    For all his work he has acquired a great knowledge of the service history of the men and women he has researched. He has also met many friends and family of service men, and he receives new information constantly. He says no book is complete, and welcomes those who have more to offer to come forward with additions pictures, corrections or omissions.
    He is excited that his work now has the potential to reach a much wider audience.        Earlier this year Bennett partnered with The Drumheller Mail, and now his Honour Roll Books and research have been published online on The Drumheller Mail web site.
    Readers are now able to the access the Drumheller Honour Roll Book page by page as well as the burial list of those who were killed in battle.
    To access the archive, log on to www.drumhellermail.com and under the community heading, select veterans and servicemen.
    Make sure you check back often as we are just in beginning stages..

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