Former NhLer and current Edmonton Oilers broadcaster, Louie Debrusk posed with a Nipawin Hawks fan who bought his jersey, which he later signed, in a fundraising event in Nipawin on Friday (Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Cam Moon & Louie Debrusk

Oilers Broadcasters help fundraise for Nipawin Hawks

Sep 9, 2024 | 2:43 PM

The Nipawin Hawks had help from some Edmonton Oilers connections this past weekend, as they organized a bit of a fundraiser to kick off their season.

With their fall camp in full swing, beginning Friday afternoon, the organization hosted two Oilers broadcasters at the Nipawin Evergreen Centre that evening, as NHL stories were shared with the public.

Cam Moon, the current radio play-by-play announcer for Edmonton, who also used to be a netminder for the Hawks, interviewed Louie Debrusk, a former NHLer himself and now the colour commentator for Edmonton’s TV broadcasts, as to what it takes to get to the NHL was discussed.

“I think junior hockey is a necessary stepping stone. It gives kids opportunities to play on a team, in a league, and expand their hockey, which I think is incredible. It’s applicable to life too because it opens up so many doors and allows you to learn what you need to do to be successful. It allows you to continue to play the game you love and could set you up for something in the future that you may do the rest of your life,” Debrusk explained.

“I wanted to move away from home and play in front of fans and have the whole experience and I got to do that in junior. I also later called games in junior, which was my first step as a broadcaster. Junior hockey is fun and I love the community feel when a team gets on a playoff run and the whole community gets behind them, there’s nothing like it,” Moon added.

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Moon and Debrusk were welcomed by the community over the weekend, as they were taken out fishing at Tobin Lake, and played golf with some community members at the Evergreen Golf Course as part of a silent auction prize.

They even stayed in someone’s home, rather than a hotel, as both truly felt the small-town energy.

“We had a great time and we were treated amazingly with great hospitality, so thank you to everybody. They opened their doors, opened their arms, and made us feel really welcome,” Debrusk told northeastNOW.

“I grew up in a small town and I remember when a pro hockey player came to my hockey camp when I was a kid and I thought it was such a big deal when I got his autograph. If I can have that same effect of some kids, that’d be great.”

Debrusk and Moon helped the Hawks raise roughly $5,000, as tickets to the interview/meet and greet, food and beverage, 50/50, and silent auction items, which included a signed Edmonton Oiler Louie Debrusk jersey, all contributed to the event.

The two also mentioned that they’d love to one day see a Nipawin Hawks game, however, it would be a little difficult with their conflicting busy winter schedules.

Regardless of whether or not they do make it back one day, they both thoroughly enjoyed their time in the northeast and hope that some of the kids who also made the trip up to Nipawin over the weekend, for Fall Camp of course, were able to learn a thing or two and apply it to their own journey.

“I had a kid that went through it, so I like trying to help kids experience that and maybe make it a little bit easier for them. It’s always going to be a journey that you have to take yourself and experience yourself. But if you can give a little bit of knowledge and tips to maybe understand what’s going to be happening, then maybe you can be ready for when those things happen,” said Debrusk.

“We’re always kind of trying to help, it’s kind of what we do, and the hockey world is a very small and tight community, so I wish them all the best and I want to see them do well.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8