Parliamentarians, journalists shinny for charity

What the teams lacked in defence, they made up for in offence.

Thirty-six parliamentarians, journalists, Olympians and former pros braved the crisp Ottawa morning Thursday to lace up their skates and play a game of shinny on the historic Rideau Canal.

The final score was reminiscent of an All-Star game—19 goals apiece—but with the purpose of raising money for Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart charity, which helps provide underprivileged children with sports equipment and registration fees.

“Every child deserves the chance to develop the confidence, discipline and social skills that come with organized play,” said Johnny Misley, president of the charity. “With the Sochi Winter Olympics just a week away, what better way to inspire young Canadians than through a game of shinny on Ottawa’s historic Rideau Canal?”

The inaugural Canadian Tire Canal Classic pitted MPs, ministers and one senator against members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, with Governor General David Johnston taking centre ice for the puck drop and Health Minister Rona Ambrose acting as referee (I think the reporters might want to look into a potential conflict there).

Donning her health minister hat rather than her referee stripes, Ambrose said the charity affords children an important opportunity.

“Physical activity plays an important role in the health, well-being and quality of life of all Canadians,” she said. “Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a great initiative because it supports kids to particpate in organized sport and recreational programs.”

Scroll below the photos to see the rosters:

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Rosters:

Team 1

Patrick Brown (Captain) (Conservative MP, Ontario)

Andrew Saxton (Conservative MP, B.C.)

Ben Lobb (Conservative MP, Ontario)

Blaine Calkins (Conservative MP, Alberta)

Blake Richards (Conservative MP, Alberta)

Christine Moore (NDP MP, Quebec)

Geoff Regan (Liberal MP, Nova Scotia)

Hoang Mai (NDP MP, Quebec)

Jim Munson (Liberal senator, New Brunswick)

John McKay (Liberal MP, Ontario)

Massimo Pacetti (Liberal MP, Quebec)

Mathieu Ravignat (NDP MP, Ontario)

Paul Dewar (NDP MP, Ontario)

Peter MacKay (Conservative Minister, Nova Scotia)

Rick Dykstra (Conservative MP, Ontario)

Scott Andrews (Liberal MP, Newfoundland and Labrador)

Randy Hoback (Conservative MP, Saskatchewan)

Team 2

Hugo de Grandpre (La Presse)

Andrew Mayeda (Bloomberg News)

Barrie McKenna (The Globe and Mail)

Ben Makuch (The Canadian Press)

Bill Curry (The Globe and Mail)

Bruce Cheadle (The Canadian Press)

Deane McRobie (iPolitics)

Joson Fekete (Postmedia News)

Steve Rennie (The Canadian Press)

Tobias Fisher (Sun Media)

Cheryl Pounder (Women’s hockey two-time Olympic gold medalist, Salt Lake and Turin)

Geraldine Heaney (Women’s hockey gold and silver Olympic  medalist, silver in ‘98, gold in ‘02)

Laurie Boschman (former NHLer)

Shaun Van Allen (former NHLer)

Todd Nicholson (Paralympic sledge hockey gold medalist in Turin, and silver medalist in Nagano)

Johnny Misley (Jumpstart CEO)

Landon French (Canadian Tire exec)

Dave Malcolmson (Canadian Tire)

Dan Guindon (Canadian Tire)

Ian Goudge (Canadian Tire)

WATCH: Conservative MP Rick Dykstra discusses the game in the House of Commons – by reading a poem