Greig reflects on time with Canes, as team celebrates 50 years of the WHL and Sportsplex in the city

By Lethbridge Herald on October 25, 2024.

SUBMITTED PHOto Mark Greig played for the three seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes are celebrating 50 years of WHL hockey in the city, between the Broncos and the Canes and of the Sportsplex at tonight’s game versus the Red Deer Rebels.

Mark Greig played from 1987 through 1990  with the Canes and  reflected  to media via Zoom earlier this week on what it was like playing with team and in the Sportsplex.

“To have them (old teammates) together collectively and reminisce about old times and some of the success we had, and then also enjoy a game back in the rink  that we all loved to play in, it’s a great experience,” said Greig, on the weekend and taking in the celebration,

Greig thought it was unique after finishing being a part of the WHL’s  Calgary Wranglers team the year before and relocating  with them down to Lethbridge  to start the 1987-88season and form the Canes.

“When the  talks started to surface that we’d be going back to Lethbridge, the first thing we all talked about was a lot of the Broncos that we had watched in the NHL, and the Sutter family and a lot of the significant names that had such a presence there,” said Greig.

“So to get the opportunity to go back to Lethbridge and kind of start our own journey and start the organization off with the Hurricanes, that was a really exciting time, and the city embraced us right away.”

Greig said it was a challenging year, when talking about that first year.

“We knew that going in,” said Greig.

“We were I believe the youngest team in the league. So we knew we had to kind of climb the ladder and get as much experience as (we) could and pay it forward in the years to come, which we absolutely did. Physically, it was demanding and the travel was something that was new to a lot of us and all those experiences, you certainly remember them well.”

Greig was asked about how Lethbridge was a launch pad to his career.

“For me it was everything,” said Greig.

“It (gave) me a chance to play at the highest level possible at that age. The organization embraced me throughout my journey in the three years (and) put me in spots to succeed.”

For Greig, playing at that level consistently was the most memorable for him ,especially against stars like Mike Modano and Joe Sakic.

“When you’re new to the league, those guys really resonate with you and you see the level that  they play at, it’s pretty impactful,” said Greig.

A memory that came to mind for Greig as far as the arena goes, is that it was  the first building that the team had success in as a group.

It was in their second season that the Canes went to the WHL semi-final and the year after is when they went to the WHL final.

“We went on a couple of deep runs in there and when the Enmax Centre is full, it’s got quite an energy to it, especially for a junior building and I think as a young man, that’s kind of your first experience with that,” said Greig.

With some of the special Hurricanes and Bronco players, Greig said the building’s had its share of great athletes come through it.

“I think it makes it great for young players that are growing up in minor hockey to see where the people have played before them came ,” said Greig.

Greig went from scoring 27 points in his first season to 135 in his third and final season with the Canes.

Greig  went on to play in the AHL, NHL, IHL and Europe between 1990 and 2007 after playing with the Canes.

The Canes will hold a special pre-game ceremony to celebrate the original Lethbridge Hurricane and Broncos teams, while fans can meet alumni on the concourse prior to the game from 5-5:45 p.m.

Fans will experience throwback prices that will include  $1 hotdogs, popcorn for $0.50 and $0.50 pop.

Game time tonight is at 6 p.m.