From the Red Deer Rustlers.  Photo Courtesy Dennis Berg

RED DEER SENIOR RUSTLERS SET FOR HOME DEBUT

The Red Deer Senior Rustlers ready to play in front of home crowd for the first time on Saturday night.

With their first ever North Central Hockey League game, and win, under their belts, the Red Deer Senior Rustlers are set for their home debut on Saturday night.

After edging the Devon Barons 5-4 on the road last Saturday, the Barons come to Penhold Saturday night for a rematch, the first time the Rustlers will skate in front of a home crowd.

“We can’t wait to see the community come out (to Penhold) on Saturday night and cheer us on for our inaugural home game,” said Rustlers President and team captain Mike Dempster. ” It’s amazing how many people have already rallied behind us – family, friends, businesses, you name it. Now we have a chance to thank them for their support by going out and getting our first win at home, and that’s pretty exciting for us.”

Saturday’s home game kicks off a string of four straight for the Rustlers at the Penhold Multiplex – the team’s home rink for the 2018-19 season.

“A lot of work has gone into this moment, and it’s going to be really special for everyone involved,” said General Manager Ted Emmett. “Our board members, players, families, friends and sponsors have all invested a lot into this team, and what we’ve already accomplished is no small feat. For the team to finally hit the ice in front of a home crowd is just the cherry on top of what’s already been an incredible experience for all of us.”

Doors open at 7pm at the Penhold Multiplex, with puck drop set for 7:45, following a short ceremony at 7:30. The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a free Rustlers cowbell.

Tickets for the game are $10 at the door, children under 12 are free. Season tickets are also available as well for $65 each, which includes all eight Rustlers home games.

For more information on the Red Deer Senior Rustlers, contact rdsenioraarustlers@gmail.com, or follow the team on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

From GoFundMe campaign for “Big Ben” 

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On October 1, Ben a 42 year old firemedic from Red Deer was faced with an unexpected event.  In a split moment, Big Ben (aka friendly giant as some of you may know him) needed the help of specialized surgeons. Due to the swift response of the firemedic dept, he was taken out of city to have emergency surgery. The surgery was successful, however he did sustain a stroke post op. Ben has a long road of recovery ahead with the potential for lifelong changes.

Currently Benny is out of cardiac intensive care and remains in hospital. His family, children (3), grandchildren (2), colleagues and close friends have been supporting him from near and far. He is recovering well but all of this will take time.

Ben has a large network of people who extend far and wide from childhood friends, clientele from the good ol’ ‘Mort’s’ days, his involvement with charities and schools that have been close to his heart, his team on the fire departments, fashion show peeps (yes he actually has graced the runway for many many charitable causes) and the list goes on.

If you have met Ben, you will have had that intimate knowing that he is ‘that guy’ who IS “hard to forget” not only because of his sheer size (6’5) but because he has that genuine and calming nurturing ability to touch our lives in so many ways.

Since his hospitalization, many people have reached out asking “how can I help?”, “what can I do?”.  Well this page will be one of the ways you can help Big Benny.

We do not know the amount of his future expenses. At this moment, we are cherishing his daily progress and flowing one day at a time. With saying that however, we know that unexpected costs will arise.
Ben has a strong work ethic. He worked extra shifts, working at a second job to support himself, the lives and future of his children. Because of this change in life circumstance, he will not be able to leverage on these extra sources of income.

We are hoping to have a fund set aside to alleviate his burden.  Should down the road if the funds aren’t required and as Ben would have it, he can choose to donate the extra money to a charity dear to his heart.

Again, here is a link to the GoFundMe campaign.