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Welcome to Wendel’s hockey barn

By: Dan Berlin, Pro-Am Blogger - 31/03/2014

Over his 15 NHL seasons, Wendel Clark made a name for himself in Toronto as its fearless leader, a clutch goal scorer and one of the toughest guys around.

Since his playing days ended in 2000, the former Maple Leafs captain is making a name for himself in the community in a different way.  Along with other NHL alumni, Clark steps up year-after-year to give back in his continued support of the Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am to help “stick it to Alzheimer’s.”

 “I think we’re all very fortunate to have played professional hockey,” says Clark, who will be participating in his ninth Pro-Am in May. “A lot of guys give back. That’s the big thing here with Baycrest - all the alumni that come out to support and be a part of [the event].”

Clark, a perennial legend with Leafs fans for his famous fisticuffs, hard hits and top-shelf wristers, takes his generosity one step further. In March, he invited the top individual 2014 Pro-Am fundraisers to skate alongside him at his private hockey barn north of the city for a game of shinny in the comfort of his own backyard.

“Playing old men’s hockey, raising some money and having some fun,” says Clark. “In a little smaller and simpler venue.”

For the special invitees, it was an absolute dream come true.

“My first reaction was to turn down the opportunity because I felt a little intimidated to be at his place,” says Trent Pringle, a lifelong Leafs fan making his first ever Pro-Am appearance. “It was like, ‘I’m not worthy.’”

“It’s pretty spectacular,” adds former Blue Jay and current Sportsnet baseball analyst Gregg Zaun, who traded in his catcher’s gear for goalie pads to help the cause.

“I thought I was cool when I had a batting cage in my backyard as a kid. This blows it away.”

Clark built the barn 10 years ago for his family and kids to play in while they grew up. It features an indoor ice surface complete with boards, proper team benches, a full-size digital scoreboard and a large dressing room, along with loads of Clark and Maple Leafs memorabilia - including his player stall and a section of the original gold seats from Maple Leaf Gardens.

He even drives his own Zamboni.

“It’s really cool to watch him ride the Zamboni with his skates on," says Joey Arfin, who’s also participating in his ninth Pro-Am with Jadaco/Slavens. “[The barn] is a little piece of Canadiana. It really does show his true love of the game.”

But former 60-goal scorer Dennis Maruk is quick to point out that you still have to keep your head up around Wendel..

“When he’s driving the Zamboni, he’s gotta be on his gentle side,” says Maruk with a laugh. “Because there’s some guys out there he doesn’t like and he’d probably run them over."

Maruk, who starred in the NHL in the ‘80s, might be smart to watch his own back.

“If he puts a Minnesota or Washington jersey on like when I played against him, I may have to hit him with the Zamboni,” jokes Clark.

Help us “Stick it to Alzheimer’s” at this year’s Scotiabank Baycrest Pro-Am. Register your team or donate to this worthy cause.

Follow Dan on Twitter @Dan_Berlin and stay up on the latest event news @ScotiabankProAm.