Elkhorn welcomes local hockey talent at Sportsman’s Dinner this July
Guest speakers Travis Sanheim, Sheldon Kennedy, Jessica Campbell, and Branden Crowe in Elkhorn July 24
June 23, 2025, 9:47 am
Ashley Bochek
The Elkhorn District Community Centre is hosting a Sportsman’s Dinner Thursday, July 24.
The event is to help fundraise for repairs and updates for the community's rink.
Hockey stars of Elkhorn, Travis Sanheim and Sheldon Kennedy will be speaking at the event, as well as NHL coach Jessica Campbell of Rocanville, and Hockey Canada’s Branden Crowe.
Melissa Pateman of the Elkhorn District Community Centre (EDCC) committee says they originally planned to host a smaller community event.
"This is our first Sportsman Dinner we've put on. We had the vision of a smaller event, but we have Travis who we knew would come and speak for it and he came up with a lot of big names to bring with him. Jessica Campbell is coming and so is Sheldon Kennedy, another Elkhorn native, and then we have Branden Crowe so it has just kind of spiraled into something really big."
She says local NHL player, Travis Sanheim, helped organize the talented speakers for the event.
"All of this came from Travis. We were just hoping that he would have a day for us in the summer to come out, tell us his stories, bring his Four Nations gold medal, so we asked, and then he thought of getting the others to come as well to have a big supper and a big event for the town, and we all thought it was great."
Fundraiser for repairs at Elkhorn rink
Pateman explains the upgrades and repairs that the rink needed this past year.
"We had our ice plant go down at the tail-end of not last season, but the season before, so we had a bunch of capital expenses throughout the year—we had to replace the Zamboni. The Zamboni that we purchased in the winter and had to take a loan for a cost of about $55,000 so we are really hoping to cover that off. We have put a lot of money into the ice plant—there is just a ton of repairs that need to be done around the rink—those small town rink issues. So, we thought there was a better way than adding to everyone's already busy hockey schedule so we wanted to do an event that we could raise a good amount of money to keep the rink going and do the fixes it needs."
Local talent
Pateman says the supper is a great way to highlight the local talent in our area.
"It is a big nod to our local talent who have gone on to do very amazing things in the hockey world. Everybody that is coming is local—Jessica Campbell of Rocanville, not far from Elkhorn, both Sheldon and Travis are Elkhorn boys, they have their signs up in the town.
"It is about highlighting what kids in hockey can do from small towns and it shows, in general, what small towns can do, what we are capable of, and how important these small rinks are for the kids and the community because that is where they all got their start in hockey—in small rinks that are maybe struggling to pay bills since costs have gone up.
“It is also the idea that you don't need to necessarily go far to have a place to play, and we want to make sure that we have that place for years to come."
Community gathering place
Pateman says the rink is a vital part of the community.
"Definitely hockey and the rink are ingrained in Elkhorn. It is where everyone meets and visits throughout the hockey season. I think it is neat to see—we have a nine-year-old and there are a few parents that would have grown up in the rink the same as we want our kids to grow up in the rink, but the generation before my nine-year-old son is all die-hard hockey people who spent every minute at the rink they could, and their parents did so much for the rink in making it what it is today, and we would like to get that culture back."
Pateman says the rink still hosts the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings for lunch on road trips out west through the hockey season.
"A big part of the rink as well, is we still host the Brandon Wheat Kings for meals at the rink. Kim Mitchell still preps and cooks for the team whenever they are stopping through, and that has been a big part of our rink for many years. It has been like that forever."
What to expect at Sportsman's Dinner
Pateman explains the details of the supper happening at the rink this July.
"We are going to have a hot stove style question-and-answer with Jessica and Travis. Branden Crowe will be doing the interviewing and asking the questions.
Branden Crowe spent a lot of time doing game commentary for the Brandon Wheat Kings and now he is with Hockey Canada. Sheldon will have a formal speech as well.
"We have Cork and Bone in Moosomin catering the event, so between them and some prep done by our volunteers we are going to have a great supper so people can expect really good food. Supper will start at 6 and our speakers will be at 7:30.
"There will be a bar and a dance after supper as well for anyone who wants to stay a bit longer to socialize and have fun. The DJ will be there until midnight."
Pateman says the committee is still looking for silent auction items.
"We are also having a silent auction during the supper and into the evening.
We are still looking for some more silent auction items. We have 10 items so far and we are thinking we would like to have around 15-20 items.
"So far we have everything from season tickets to the Virden Oil Capitals, a box at the Wheat Kings, some equipment rentals like 10-hours on an excavator, we have some swag from the Geekie family (Morgan Geekie of Strathclair plays for the Boston Bruins and younger brother, Conor Geekie, plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL) as well as Branden Crowe. It is very open-ended if anyone would like to donate an item.
"I believe Travis will have his Four Nations medal to the supper as well."
Ticket sales
Pateman says they have sold out their sponsorship tables and are looking to sell more single tickets for the event.
"We really pushed our sponsorship tables and that was great. We gathered 42 round tables between the Elks and what we could rent from a local guy in Virden, so all of those are sold. We are really happy with that because the $50,000 that we were really hoping to bring in for the event is covered we just have to pull the whole thing off now.
"Single tickets have been slow, but we are sure it will come. We just wanted to make sure we had the single ticket option for community people. It is great to have all of the folks from town come and experience it as well.
"We are planning for 500 people. So far, with the tables all sold we have about 350 people attending right now. It didn't take long to sell the tables at all."
Player Development program
Pateman says the minor hockey association is bringing in Flo Hockey training in the upcoming season as player development for hockey players in Elkhorn.
"The other thing that we are doing in addition to our regular minor hockey program is that we are going to bring in Flo Hockey that will be coming in and giving additional support to the kids and the coaches. It will be periodically through minor hockey season so about once a month. We are calling it player development."
Connections to Elkhorn
Pateman explains each speaker's connection to Elkhorn and the surrounding area.
"Travis Sanheim grew up on a farm by Manson and went to school and played hockey in Elkhorn. Sheldon Kennedy grew up on a farm outside of town and same thing, grew up and started hockey in Elkhorn. Branden Crowe has a connection with Devrin Stonehouse, a local guy, and he had contacted him to come out and he was thrilled.
"Everything came through Travis. Taylor, Travis's brother, at our meeting a few months ago, texted Travis asking when worked best for him to come, so he replied and sent Taylor some dates.
"We had the thought that it would be nice to ask Sheldon to come so in the end I think Travis also asked him, as well as Jessica. We were flabbergasted to say the least, that all these amazing local idols were able to make it one night out to Elkhorn to speak and raise funds for the rink.
"We are just so excited and thankful to the speakers for coming, and the support so far from the community. We are very excited and it will be a really great thing for the rink and the community as a whole. It is nice to have big events like this for such a good reason, to help our rink."
Travis Sanheim donating to Elkhorn rink
Pateman says Travis Sanheim has been a huge contributor to helping the local kids get started in hockey in Elkhorn.
"I know Travis has said he is very committed to our rink and helping in any way he can. One of the biggest things is the equipment program. We had different sizes, but mostly geared toward kids starting hockey, so if you are on the fence and not sure if your son or daughter wants to play hockey and don't want to have that investment in equipment, we have an entire locker in the basement of the rink full of equipment donated by Travis.
"It started about five years ago and it has just been such a good thing for the rink and for the young kids in the community starting in hockey."
If you are interested in attending the Sportsman's Dinner in Elkhorn, check out their Facebook page.
"We have a Facebook page and on the Facebook events site there is the information on where to e-transfer and get on the list for tickets or if you want a physical ticket Samantha's Boutique in Elkhorn has them available," Pateman said.
Contact Brooke Canart for tickets at (204)-851-2531
or visit their Facebook page at EDCC Sportsman's Dinner.
SM.jpg)
