St. Thomas University athletics director Mike Eagles will soon relive his days of playing hockey for a living.
The former National Hockey League forward will suit up for the Winnipeg Jets at the 2016 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic alumni game against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Investors Group Field.
“I’m thrilled to have been asked to do it,” Eagles said. “It will be really fun, and I look forward to it, but I’m a bit nervous where I don’t play [nowadays].”
Eagles, 53, spent four years with the original Jets – now the Arizona Coyotes – from 1990 to 1994.
He played 16 seasons in the NHL with Winnipeg, the former Quebec Nordiques (now the Colorado Avalanche), the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals from 1983 to 2000.
A native of Sussex, N.B., Eagles saw action with the Capitals in the 1998 Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings.
Detroit swept the best-of-seven series in four games to win a second straight Cup.
Eagles scored 74 goals and provided 122 assists for a total of 196 points in 853 games.
A sixth-round draft pick for the Nordiques in 1981, Eagles was assessed 928 penalty minutes in his NHL career.
Eagles added eight points (two goals, six assists) and 34 penalty minutes in 44 playoff games.
He played junior hockey with the Tri-City Americans franchise of the Western Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers, where he won two league titles and a Memorial Cup.
As well, Eagles skated with the former Fredericton Express of the American Hockey League in the 1980s.
Eagles won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 1983 World Junior Hockey Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia.
After retiring as a player, Eagles coached the now-defunct STU Tommies men’s hockey team before becoming athletics director.
“I haven’t played a huge amount of hockey since I retired, and some guys who play in these [alumni] games play a lot,” Eagles said. “So I’ve got some work to do.”
Eagles said his last game action was about two and a half years ago, when he faced off against some ex-Boston Bruins. However, he does run and skate quite often.
He planned to skate with the STU women’s hockey squad in an effort to get back in game shape.
At the alumni game, Eagles’ teammates with the Jets include goalie Bob Essensa, defenceman Dave Babych and forwards Dale Hawerchuk and Teemu Selanne, among other former NHLers.
It was Hawerchuk who contacted Eagles in June to confirm his interest in the alumni game after he told the team he wanted to be part of the festivities back in March.
“I didn’t play with Dale, so I’m thrilled to have been asked by him to come play.”
The Oilers’ alumni roster will be stacked with former greats from the team’s 1980s dynasty era, such as the legendary Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson and Craig MacTavish.
Also on the Oilers’ alumni roster are blueliners Paul Coffey, Kevin Lowe and Marty McSorley, with Grant Fuhr and Bill Ranford manning the pipes for the Edmonton oldtimers.
“We’ve got some Hall of Famers on the other side, but we’ll see how we make out,” said Eagles. “We’ve got some good guys on our team, too.”
The current Oilers and Jets will face off on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. Atlantic time.
