NHL defenceman, North Island product and former Campbell River Storm Clayton Stoner was in town last week to meet with Campbell River Special Olympians and try his hand at another ice sport.
No, Stoner has no plans to take up curling, but he was in town to meet with Campbell River Special Olympics athletes at the Campbell River Curling Club and organizers of the annual Howie Meeker Golf Classic of which he is now a co-host alongside the iconic 93-year-old tournament namesake.
Stoner said he’s happy to get involved with Special Olympics Campbell River and the annual golf classic which is a major fundraiser for the local organization. He said he thinks he first met Meeker himself at one of the legendary player and broadcaster’s hockey schools in Parksville.
Stoner was announced as the new co-host of the Howie Meeker Golf Classic at last year’s event, its 30th year. The 93-year-old Meeker has attended every one of the 30 events and intends to keep on doing so but in recent years he has been slowing down as would be expected.