One day after the death of one of the most popular Edmonton Oilers’ players of all time, the team invited the public to a celebration of Dave Semenko’s life at Rogers Place next week.
“Dave’s family, friends and former teammates will take the opportunity to share memories and celebrate the life of a beloved father, brother, son, teammate and friend,” the Oilers said in a statement Friday.
Paul Coffey, Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky will be among Semenko’s former teammates in attendance.
The event to honour Semenko will take place on Thursday, July 6, at 2 p.m.
“Public seating in Rogers Place will be general admission, but will be ticketed,” the Oilers said, adding tickets will be available for free via ticketmaster.ca beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Watch below: The Edmonton Oilers are hosting a celebration of life for former player Dave Semenko this week. The former NHL tough guy died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Kevin Lowe, a former teammate of Semenko’s and vice chair of the Oilers Entertainment Group, dropped by Global News on July 4, 2017 to talk about the event.
“Although it has been tough losing an Oiler icon like Dave, the celebration of life should be a special day to remember Dave and have some laughs at his great sense of humour and how much he impacted the team and community.”
Doors will open at noon and no food or beverage service will be available for the event.
On Thursday, Semenko died at the age of 59 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
READ MORE: Former Edmonton Oiler Dave Semenko dies at 59 from pancreatic cancer
Watch below: Former NHL player, scout and coach Dave Semenko died Thursday morning in Edmonton after a short battle with cancer. Later that day, Global’s Kevin Karius shared his memories of the fierce – and fiercely popular – enforcer.
As a hockey player, Semenko was known for his tough demeanour on the ice and for protecting Wayne Gretzky during the Oilers’ glory years in the 1980s.
“He was the toughest player I knew and yet the biggest teddy bear you would ever know,” Gretzky said in a statement to Sportsnet on Thursday. “RIP # 27, thanks for your friendship.”
Semenko also played for the Hartford Whalers (who later became the Carolina Hurricanes) and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After retiring, he became a colour commentator on Oilers radio broadcasts and an assistant coach with the Oilers during the 1996-97 season.
-With files from Karen Bartko
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