Taber, Alta., adds former NHLers, Olympian to lineup for fundraising street hockey tournament to rebuild arena

Several former NHL players and a former Olympian will participate in a street hockey tournament in late March for the rebuild of the Taber arena

The Town of Taber has announced its celebrity guests for its upcoming street hockey tournament later this month.

Former NHLers Brian Skrudland, Kelly Buchberger and Rich Sutter will be in town, among others.

And three-time Canadian Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Johnston will also make an appearance.

The town is set to host the Play On Street Hockey Tournament on March 27 and March 28.

The event is a fundraiser to help rebuild Taber’s community centre arena, which was badly damaged when a Zamboni exploded inside the arena in mid-December.

An examination revealed that the explosion was caused by a failure of a component within the fuel system of the Zamboni, which created a gas cloud within the ice surfacer room and across the small ice surface.

When the gas cloud met an electric heater, the fumes ignited.

Taber will find out Saturday whether or not it’s been selected as a provincial winner of the Kraft Hockeyville Competition.

One community from every province and territory in Canada will win $50,000.

The runner-up will receive $100,000, while the grand prize is $250,000.

The winner will be announced April 4.

For more information about the Play On Street Hockey Tournament, go here.

With files from CTV’s Karsen Marczuk and Quinn Keenan