Shell
08-07-2003, 12:45 PM
nice to know the off-ice Georges is much better than the on-ice!
Big man, huge heart
Oilers star Georges Laraque just can't say no when it comes to helping kids
By AJAY BHARDWAJ, EDMONTON SUN
Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish manages tough-guy Georges Laraque's ice time, but Gillian Andries looks after his time off the ice.
She has to. When it comes to a good cause, Laraque's just a guy who can't say no.
"Most of the players calendar themselves," said Andries, executive director of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, an organization that co-ordinates charitable activities for the team.
"Sometimes (Georges) would over-commit and say yes to three things at the same time.
"Georges would do these things and not tell anyone, and we wouldn't find out until he turned up in the paper the next day."
The 26-year-old Oilers enforcer visits schools to tell children to stay off drugs.
He made an appearance at Monday Morning Magic, a private party that took special-needs children out to enjoy the Klondike Days midway on July 22. And he tells kids he meets to work hard to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
"I know that because of the position I'm in, people, especially kids, will listen to me," said Laraque yesterday as he prepared for a charity soccer game.
"A lot of kids I talk to want to be athletes, even hockey players. So if I made all the right decisions, then they'll want to make the same decisions that I made."
Laraque, who hasn't yet signed a contract for the upcoming season, said he's a different person off the ice.
He has a skybox at Skyreach Centre where he brings underprivileged children to watch games, said Andries. He pays for their food while at the game.
"When I retire, I want to be remembered as a guy who was there for the community," said the soft-spoken Laraque.
"People say we make a lot of money and they're right.
"But how do you get respect? When you give back to people instead of just collecting your paycheque and going home.
"That really makes me feel good about the chance God is giving me to be in the NHL. I don't think I should be recognized for doing it."
Back in April, Laraque, who was visiting friends in Calgary, drove home to see Jordon Klym, a hockey fan suffering from muscular dystrophy.
Jordon's dying wish was to visit with a hockey star, said his mother, Sue.
Doctors set up the meeting between Jordon, 19, and the hockey hero.
"You know how big that is?" said Laraque, chairman of the Stollery Children's Foundation. "When you have (little time) to live and the person you want to see is not the president, it's not the Pope, it's me?"
"It was just so important to Jordon," said Sue Klym.
"And it just lifted his spirits amazingly, even if for just a short period of time."
Jordon died in May. Laraque sent four T-shirts and an autographed jersey to Jordon's family afterwards, said Sue.
Big man, huge heart
Oilers star Georges Laraque just can't say no when it comes to helping kids
By AJAY BHARDWAJ, EDMONTON SUN
Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish manages tough-guy Georges Laraque's ice time, but Gillian Andries looks after his time off the ice.
She has to. When it comes to a good cause, Laraque's just a guy who can't say no.
"Most of the players calendar themselves," said Andries, executive director of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, an organization that co-ordinates charitable activities for the team.
"Sometimes (Georges) would over-commit and say yes to three things at the same time.
"Georges would do these things and not tell anyone, and we wouldn't find out until he turned up in the paper the next day."
The 26-year-old Oilers enforcer visits schools to tell children to stay off drugs.
He made an appearance at Monday Morning Magic, a private party that took special-needs children out to enjoy the Klondike Days midway on July 22. And he tells kids he meets to work hard to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
"I know that because of the position I'm in, people, especially kids, will listen to me," said Laraque yesterday as he prepared for a charity soccer game.
"A lot of kids I talk to want to be athletes, even hockey players. So if I made all the right decisions, then they'll want to make the same decisions that I made."
Laraque, who hasn't yet signed a contract for the upcoming season, said he's a different person off the ice.
He has a skybox at Skyreach Centre where he brings underprivileged children to watch games, said Andries. He pays for their food while at the game.
"When I retire, I want to be remembered as a guy who was there for the community," said the soft-spoken Laraque.
"People say we make a lot of money and they're right.
"But how do you get respect? When you give back to people instead of just collecting your paycheque and going home.
"That really makes me feel good about the chance God is giving me to be in the NHL. I don't think I should be recognized for doing it."
Back in April, Laraque, who was visiting friends in Calgary, drove home to see Jordon Klym, a hockey fan suffering from muscular dystrophy.
Jordon's dying wish was to visit with a hockey star, said his mother, Sue.
Doctors set up the meeting between Jordon, 19, and the hockey hero.
"You know how big that is?" said Laraque, chairman of the Stollery Children's Foundation. "When you have (little time) to live and the person you want to see is not the president, it's not the Pope, it's me?"
"It was just so important to Jordon," said Sue Klym.
"And it just lifted his spirits amazingly, even if for just a short period of time."
Jordon died in May. Laraque sent four T-shirts and an autographed jersey to Jordon's family afterwards, said Sue.