Greg Classen during his time with Hawks. (submitted photo/Brian Munz)

By Ben Tompkins

Greg Classen

Former Hawk to have jersey retired in October

Aug 16, 2024 | 8:00 AM

Greg Classen will soon have his jersey number hanging in the rafters for eternity, at the Centennial Arena in Nipawin.

The former Hawk spent four seasons with the Black and Gold, putting up 73 goals and 125 assists for 198 points in 223 regular season games.

A native of Aylsham, Classen will have his number nine retired during a pregame ceremony on Oct. 25, when Nipawin hosts the Notre Dame Hounds.

“I am so grateful to have my number retired by the Hawks, growing up down the road in Aylsham, it was a dream come true to wear the black and gold inside the Cage. To have my parents Gord and Marj, sister Lori and other family in the stands, and then my brother Bryce and cousin Cris along for the ride as teammates was truly special,” Classen said in a press release.

“Also, being able to build so many lifelong relationships over the four years, I can’t imagine a better junior career anywhere else. I am looking forward to seeing everyone in October and can’t wait to share this special time with my family, friends, former teammates, coaches, and Hawks fans.”

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Following the game against the Hounds, Classen will be the guest of honour in a banquet on Oct. 26 at the Evergreen Centre.

There, he will take part in a fan-friendly interactive question and answer with former Hawks broadcaster Brian Munz.

“I had the privilege to be the voice of the Hawks when Greg and his brother Bryce played in Nipawin and to this day they remain two of my closest friends… to follow Greg’s journey was a treat. The year he played with the Manitoba Moose, I was doing those games on the radio, so that kind of completed the full circle for us from junior to pro,” Munz explained.

“His family have always been very proud of their roots in Alysham and Nipawin, and I know this will be a special weekend for them and all Hawks fans to celebrate a local guy who definitely deserves it.”

This year, Nipawin will be celebrating their 40th anniversary season.

Classen will be the fourth player in Hawks franchise history to have his number retired joining Terrance Boland (27), Graham Christie (15) and Derek Crawford (25).

“The Classen name is synonymous with the Nipawin Hawks. We are thrilled Greg has accepted this honour and will be returning to Nipawin for a truly special weekend,” added Hawks’ President Shayne Pickering.

“Watching Greg’s smooth style as an elite player in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) was special for all of us. The way he carried himself both on and off the ice and as a representative of our organization in the community is exactly how we believe a Nipawin Hawk should be.”

In Nipawin, Classen was named the Hawk’s Most Gentlemanly Player on three separate occasions, and in 1997-98 was named the Hawks regular season and playoff MVP, helping lead the Hawks to the 1998 SJHL League Final.

That same year, he was named an SJHL All-Star, and was also selected to play in the Viking Cup International Tournament with the SJHL Selects where they won the tournament championship and Classen was named the event’s top left winger.

Following his time in Nipawin, Classen received a scholarship to Merrimack College where he would play two seasons in the NCAA, making the Hockey East All-Rookie team in 1998-99 and being named the teams’ MVP in his sophomore season of 1999-2000, before signing an NHL contract with the Nashville Predators in March of 2000.

He then made his NHL debut on Oct. 6, 2000, with the Predators registering an assist in Tokyo, Japan against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Over the next 19 seasons, he played in the NHL, IHL and AHL as well as professional hockey in Finland, Switzerland and Germany.

His professional career was highlighted by winning the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup Championship with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2004 and the Deutsche Eishockey League Championship with the ERC Ingolstadt Panthers in 2014.

In 25 years of combined junior, college and professional hockey Classen registered 306 goals and 539 assists for 845 points in 1,452 games played along with 1,174 penalty minutes.

Classen was inducted into the SJHL Hall of Fame in 2019.

To purchase tickets for the banquet, which will also feature entertainment from Comedian Kelly Taylor, contact the Hawks office.

– With files from Clark Stork/Nipawin Hawks

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @BenTompkins_8