Current NHL players who call Sudbury home, given any reasonable definition of “home”, are relatively scarce these days.

Nick Foligno (Chicago Blackhawks); Marcus Foligno (Minnesota Wild); Tyler Bertuzzi (Chicago Blackhawks): that’s your list.

Sure, there might be one or more who were born in Sudbury, but then moved very young and have virtually no affiliation otherwise with the nickel city (Brendan Gaunce comes to mind).

And there remain local prospects and draft choices that have yet to make their way to being termed an NHL regular – or even close, at the moment.

Throw in another small handful of NHLers who called this area home for a few winters in their teenage years as members of the Sudbury Wolves and you have “connections” that exist – just not as every day players who might return to their hometown for the rarity that is an actual NHL game played at the Old Barn on Elgin Street.

The odds were thus pretty much stacked against a Sudbury flavour on the ice, limited more to the ties with Elliot Lake (the town which actually won the Hockeyville competition) and the highly enthusiastic fan base that attended the Pittsburgh Penguins – Ottawa Senators match-up Sunday night.

Or maybe not.

Now a veteran of more than 1500 games as an NHL linesman, Sudbury native Dave Brisebois still returns regularly to the north – and still recalls that formative season (1997-1998) in which the same Sudbury Arena where he returned to officiate on Sunday alongside T.J. Luxmore (from Timmins), former Wolves forward Shandor Alphonso and one-time OHL referee Kendrick Nicholson served as a launching pad to his career.

“It was after my first (and only) year of officiating here in Sudbury in the OHL that I wanted to see if I could make a go at it, make it a career,” said Brisebois on Sunday.

Looking to move to southern Ontario to increase his workload at a time when few opportunities existed, the 48 year-old who has worked a Stanley Cup final (2021) as well as an All-Star Game (2017) and a pair of Winter Classics made his way to the Western Professional League in Texas and the start of an amazing journey that continues to this day – even as he prepares for yet another season.

“It’s just about getting the reps in for me: getting your positioning back, getting into the flow of the game, getting your technique in the faceoffs, getting that rhythm set,” said Brisebois. “I’m excited. I’m excited for the fans.”

Now 57 years-old, Kay Whitmore easily recalls memories of the Sudbury Arena, well before his playing days with the Peterborough Petes (1983-1987) or his return to the venue this weekend as a representative of the NHL Hockey Operations department.

“I was in here a lot,” said the goaltender who went on to enjoy a lengthy career in the pros highlighted by 155 regular season starts between the pipes in the NHL. “Sudbury Minor (Hockey Association) used to always have contests, Skate-a-thons and stuff. I think I still have pictures at home of standing out on the ice with one of the Wolves goalies.”

Those childhood memories that linger were absolutely at the forefront of so many of our chats on Sunday, with one and all involved with the game fully aware of the impact this one single day could have on countless youths who will never forget Hockeyville 2024.

“I think I am most proud of our sport in that sense,” said Whitmore. “The guys don’t forget where they came from. Most guys came from places like this. Most can remember when their rinks weren’t as fancy and the dressing rooms didn’t have the fancy towels and the shower wasn’t as hot.”

“All of those things don’t really matter when you get out on the ice and play.”

Pittsburgh veteran Bryan Rust hails from Pontiac (Michigan), though local hockey folks of a certain age will absolutely recall the playing days of his father-in-law, Tim Burton (a 7th round pick of the Ottawa 67’s in 1979 and, if the memories of this sexagenarian are accurate, also played with the Sudbury Lions of the SMHA and Nickel Centre of the NOJHL)

The bond that Rust enjoys with northern Ontario might be more tangential, but his youthful memories as a Red Wings fan definitely are not. “I can’t remember how old I was, but I remember doing a shootout between periods at one of the Red Wings’ games,” he stated.

“At the time, my favourite player was Martin Lapointe and I was able to take some pictures with him.”

"I vividly remember that."

And as noted by Whitmore, count Rust among the NHLers who enjoys a wonderfully healthy perspective for these festivities.

"It's really special," he said. "It shows just how much hockey means to this community. It gives us that feeling that we are doing something here that is bigger than just the game."

Ottawa Senators’ assistant coach Mike Yeo had reached his teenage years when his OHL career would bring him to the Wolves (1990-1994), the young man drafted directly from the North Bay U18 AAA Trappers. “Being out on the ice (for pre-game morning skate) was great,” said Yeo. “I can almost relive the atmosphere that used to be in the rink.”

The northern hockey fan base that he recalled was celebrated in so many ways at Hockeyville, including the red carpet player parade that gave the faithful an up close and personal look at their stars.

“You could see the passion that everybody has for hockey as soon as you get here,” said Yeo. “I don’t want to say that it’s different than everywhere else – but to me, it kind of is. It’s a lot more sentimental to me with family and friends up here. It means so much to these people.”

That’s a message that Steve Staois, current President of Hockey Operations and General Manager for the Senators (not to mention Wolves alumnus – 1992-1993), suggested bears repeating, ensuring those who have moved on to much greater things maintain a level of perspective.

“Kraft Hockeyville is a great time for not only our players but our staff to reflect a little bit,” said Staois. “We all sort of came through junior or college ranks, minor hockey, and this is grass roots. You see all of these kids waiting around to see some of their idols and hopefully our guys help inspire the next generation.”

And, like the others, there are memories of this northern mining town that do not fade quickly.

"My time in Sudbury was brief, but I really look back with some fond memories," said Staois. "It's such a great junior hockey market."

Right in the centre of the spotlight, Sportsnet broadcaster Rob Faulds (CKSO Sudbury – 1980 to 1984) has seen both sides of this equation many times over. “In a big centre, this is just an exhibition game. Here is means a lot more.”

“This takes the players back to their roots, back to when they played minor hockey and junior hockey, to remind them just how important they were to the community. The players had to get back out into the community and meet the people that were supporting them.”

“This is a throwback for them.”

The Lockerby Composite graduate who played a central role in making the entire day happen – and that says a lot – could not agree more.

“Normally, we see players that are in arenas where there are many areas that are off-limits,” stressed Sara Campbell, a Laurentian University Sports Administration graduate who worked for the Wolves from 2011 until 2018, vaulting from there into a role with the NHL (now with In-Game Communications) and her the third Hockeyville game that she has helped organize.

“With Hockeyville, the players are right there with the fans. It’s such a special event because you’re in the community and it means so much for the community to have Hockeyville there.”

“There is just a really good energy in the community.”

"Thirteen years ago, I worked my first hokcey game at this arena, so it feels very "full circle" to be back here now," Campbell added.

It might not be Toronto, or Montreal, or Vancouver – but that is part of the attraction, the fun for one and all.

“It’s not an NHL venue so we are scoring the game with pens and pencils,” noted NHL Senior Manager of Statistics and Information Scott Rodgers, a current resident of Barrie who was born in Sudbury in 1991, moved to North Bay in 2001 but returned to the area ten years later to study at L.U. (also in SPAD).

“This job has a lot of information to look into, a lot of rabbit holes to go down,” added Rodgers. “We focus on all of the Sudbury connections, all of the northern connections, all of the previous NHL visits to Sudbury.”

“That’s a lot of fun to research.”

I could not agree more.