Who should pop in to the Special Olympics Celebrity Bowl-a-thon Saturday night at Midtown Bowl, other than Toronto Maple Leafs great Rick Vaive.
He says he makes several appearances at Special Olympics events across Canada every year, and we could all learn from Special Olympians’ attitude that just competing is as good as winning.
“That’s why I love it, because it’s so much fun when you see someone cross the finish line,” Vaive comments. “They probably finished maybe seventh, but they’re high-fiving and they’re cheering and they’re happy and you know what? – that makes me happy.”
Vaive holds the distinction of being the first member of the Leafs to score 50 goals in a season. He retired from professional hockey in 1993, but still plays 70 games a year.
“Yeah, with the Leafs alumni, NHL alumni, various tournaments for charities,” he says. “I still love playing. I’m 60 now. Hopefully I can play another ten, 15 years. Maybe not, but I’m going to try.”
Unbeknownst to either one of them until they met in the airport on the way up,fellow former Leaf Mike Krushnelyski also came to Saturday’s event.