“It’ll probably be the most important time I’ve ever dropped my gloves.”
Midway through a star-studded outdoor hockey game on Great Bear Lake featuring nearly two-dozen NHL alumni, Sandy McCarthy found a way to make the day even more special.
Dropping to one knee, McCarthy – a veteran of more than 700 NHL games for the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers and others – proposed to Mandy Bayha.
Bayha and the NHL alumni had no idea it was coming.
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“She didn’t know anything about it, but I had it planned from the moment I knew I was coming up here,” said McCarthy.
“The people that organized this understood what was happening but I didn’t tell any of the players either, so it was a surprise to them.
“She’s a special woman in my life and I wanted that to be a special day for her, and I believe it was.”
Saturday’s game on a specially created outdoor rink was held to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Délı̨nę’s claim to be the birthplace of ice hockey. The sport of “hockey on the ice” is recorded in a letter sent back to the United Kingdom by explorer Sir John Franklin from Great Bear Lake in late 1825.
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Most of the NHL alumni who took part in the game had little connection to Délı̨nę beyond an affinity for hockey and a desire to support the community and be a part of something special.
For McCarthy, it’s different.
He has become a fixture in Délı̨nę as a hockey coach and director of other recreation programming.
He was recruited to help run events at the Sahtu community’s upgraded arena through his connection to Ɂekw’ahtı̨dǝ́ Danny Gaudet, the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government’s leader.
“It was a deep feeling. That feeling I felt at centre ice is how this whole community makes me feel,” he told Cabin Radio. “And I’m proud to say that I can be part of this community.”
Bayha had been duped by event organizers into thinking she would be taking part in a ceremonial puck drop.
Organizers “gave me a puck and brought me to centre ice, and that’s what I thought I was there for,” she said.
“That wasn’t what I was there for. I’m still shaking.”
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While Bayha said she was “absolutely surprised,” she quickly added: “But of course – of course – I said yes.”
The whole family had quite the day. Bayha’s son, Saoyue, had the chance to play in the game’s second period.
“It was pretty overwhelming,” his mom said. “I’m here in my hometown on Great Bear Lake and I couldn’t be happier, and my son gets to play as well.”
Scott Letkeman contributed reporting.
