In 25 years working with the little Detroit Red Wings, Mario Bérubé has had the chance to pat on the back with some of the team’s greatest legends. His involvement as team captain during the Pee-Wee tournament allowed him to invite Chris Chelios over to his Quebec City home for lunch and even led him to a Stanley Cup final.
But when this great hockey enthusiast tells this beautiful story that spans a quarter of a century, it’s neither those encounters nor the friendship he forged with former forward Kris Draper that spring to mind.
“I like it because I’ve played hockey my whole life, played in the peewee tournament [au début des années 1980]that I love the world and would like to show you who we are in Quebec City,” says the friendly engineer with a smile in his voice, who once a year structures his schedule so that he can support the crew.
In fact, Mario Bérubé would have been just as happy to take care of any team participating in the event. What he likes is “the game, the action,” he emphasizes.
involved and grateful
But fate would drop it on the Detroit team, which is part of the Little Caesars hockey program. The latter, which includes young players of all categories, is looked after by the organization of the Red Wings.
A very “dedicated” organization but also very “grateful” for what is done for its athletes during their almost annual visit to Quebec, stresses Mr. Bérubé.
Over the years, the team captain has therefore made a number of trips to Detroit to meet the organization but also to visit parents of youngsters whom he has hosted over the years.
He also collected a large number of Red Wings jerseys donated by the team…which of course became his favorite hockey club over time.
An unforgettable experience
Mario Bérubé has not hosted Pee-Wee for a number of years, but he remains very dedicated as the team captain.
He’s the one who plans the little Red Wings’ activities, making sure everything is ready in time for their games. Which sometimes also reassures the parents of the players.
His goal, he explains, is to give them an unforgettable experience in Quebec City, regardless of the end result.
“A year ago, Mr. Bérubé recalls, I said to one of the players I was staying with: ‘When you come back to school, think back to the 10 days you spent here. Look at the person next to you and tell yourself they didn’t have this experience. »
“I do this for people. What is certain is that as a young person who dreamed of playing in the NHL, of getting up close and personal with hockey’s elite, I’m relapsing into childhood. But this role gives me energy. it comes for me »
A trip to Detroit for the finals against the Penguins
Photo provided by Mario Bérubé
After welcoming young players to his home for several editions of the Pee-Wee tournament, Mario Bérubé again hosted a Detroit family during the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals when the Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins. The organization had invited him to one of the home games to thank him for his commitment. “We moved on our own, but when we got there it was our turn to be accommodated! he says. The Wings eventually triumphed over Sidney Crosby’s gang and each Red Wings foster family was then given a frame (pictured) signed by defense attorney Nicklas Lidstrom, along with a replica ring. It was all accompanied by a letter signed by then-owner Mike Illitich and his wife Marian, thanking them for their involvement during the Pee-Wee tournament. Mr. Bérubé has also made a few other trips to the Detroit area over the years, either to meet with program officials or families with whom he has formed relationships.
eggs and quiche
Jake Chelios, son of Chris, was a guest of the Bérubé family during the 2003 Pee-Wee tournament, which unexpectedly led to an impromptu lunch with the star defender at Mario Bérubé’s Charlesbourg residence. Mr. Bérubé then served as a driver for former Canadian Blackhawks, Red Wings and Thrashers, taking him to his son’s game. “Their first game was on Sunday. The Red Wings, they played on Saturday afternoon, and after the meeting, some members of the organization, including Chris, came to Quebec in a private jet, ”says the captain. The Bérubé family therefore invited the parents of the two Peewees who were hosting them to their home for lunch. “I, the little donkey who loved ice hockey, tripped! says Mario Berube. On the menu ? Eggs and quiche probably…but Mr. Bérubé doesn’t remember exactly. What shaped him more was that short trip to the Colosseum, during which the two men evoked fond memories of the Canada-Nordic rivalry. “That year Patrick Roy had one of his guys play in the pee-wee tournament. I had climbed into the stands with Chris to see him. They struck up a conversation, they hadn’t seen each other for years. I didn’t talk much there, but they were super friendly. However, Mario Bérubé was unable to see Chelios during his visit to the tournament last Sunday when he signed autographs and took part in a celebratory duel (photo).
Meeting in Quebec with Kris Draper
Photo provided by Mario Bérubé
Mario Bérubé met former Red Wings forward Kris Draper when his son Kienan came to the Pee Wee tournament seven years ago. Draper, now in charge of amateur recruiting in Detroit, is still in touch with the little Red Wings team captain. The two acolytes went to Quebec in December 2021 notably for lunch together. Draper drove around town as part of his duties. “When the Red Wings play the Canadiens in Montreal, Kris organizes to get us tickets,” says Mr. Bérubé. Then we meet the players. We met Danny DeKeyser once and he remembered us. »
CALENDAR OF THE DAY
8 o’clock New England Prospects v. Flames Minuteman | AAA
9:15 a.m Barons of Mauricie Northeast c. Beauce-Nord – Bellechasse Regrouping | aa
10 am. Champlain of Northeast Quebec v. Chadwick Dolphins | AA elite
10:30 am New Jersey Devils v. Boston Jr Eagles | AAA
11:15 a.m Connecticut Whalers Jr. v. Pittsburgh Penguins Elite | AAA
11:45 a.m Kazakhstan v. Female Quebec Stars | bb
13 o’clock Hershey Jr Bears v. Rochester Jr. American | AA elite
2:15 p.m Grenoble Wolf Burner c. Delémont Ghosts | bb
3:30 p.m. Connecticut Jr. Rangers v. Stars of the Laurentiner-Lanaudière | Feminine
4:45 p.m Laval East Rangers vs Wasa’s Budapest | bb
17:30 Hershey Jr Bears v. Rochester Jr. American | AA elite
6 p.m Quebec Remparts c. Anaheim Jr Ducks | AAA
7:15 p.m NYC North Park v. Atlanta Fire | aa
8:30 p.m Beauce-Etchemin Express 2 grouping on the South Shore | bb
Tuesday
Zenith Ice from Korea 4
Quebec Northeast Frontenac 2
aa
Zurich lion 3
Grail of the Claretians Quorum 2
AA elite
Shawinigan cataracts 4
Dynamic Charles Lemoyne 5
AA elite
Anaheim Jr Ducks. 3
Rangers Mid Fairfield Jr. 0
AAA
Knights of the Czech Republic 7
Laval Patriots 4
AAA
York Simcoe Express 0
Philadelphia Flyer 6
AAA
San Diego Oilers 3
Vegas Jr. Golden Knights 1
aa