Toronto Maple Leaf’s President Brendan Shanahan was in Cobourg on Saturday, July 13, 2018 watching his daughter play beach volleyball.
Today’s Northumberland caught up with Shanahan who graciously shared a few moments to chat between games.
“I’ve actually been to Cobourg for a few tournaments both inside and outside and I have some old high school friends who have settled here. It’s a beautiful town and I’ve been here a lot for sports.”
With the hockey season, Shanahan’s wife Catherine, usually handles covering their three children’s sports, but in the off season he tries to get in as much family time and watching them play sports.
“This gig on the beach is much better on the hockey rinks with my son,” Shanahan says with a laugh.
With the upcoming season and the signing of John Tavares from the New York Islanders, Shanahan said the team and city are very excited.
“It’s a huge boost for our program to get a player like that.”
Tavares was selected first overall in the 2009 NHL draft by the New York Islanders and has been there until signing his seven year, $77-million dollar contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs this year.
“It’s even got our returning players excited. It puts us in the conversation with the better teams in the league. You just start the journey and hope you’re there at the end.”
Shanahan added, “you don’t win championships in July, but you definitely use the off season to put yourself in the category of one of the teams that is capable of doing it.”
“He’s made a decision to come to Toronto to be part of a team and a piece of the puzzle and it’s a very unselfish move by him and we’re very grateful he chose us.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
