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Alumni Watch: Former Bull Brent Gretzky Wins Allan Cup
Former Belleville Bulls star forward Brent Gretzky won the Allan Cup with the Brantford Blast on Saturday. The Allan Cup is Canada’s Senior AAA Hockey Championship that has been awarded since 1908. Other past winners of the tournament included the Belleville McFarlands.
Gretzky recorded a goal and four assists in five games to finish fifth in tournament scoring, as he helped the Blast win the tournament on home ice. Brantford rebounded from an opening game loss to win their final four games including a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory over the Dundas Real McCoys in which Brantford tied the score in the final minute of the third period before advancing in the extra period. The Blast then followed up their semi-final win with 3-1 victory over the Bentley Generals in the championship game.
There were also a number of other former Bulls who participated in the six team Allan Cup tournament. Joel Dezainde played for the Dundas Real McCoys while Joe Van Volsen, Mike Van Volsen, and Josh Francis all played for the Whitby Dunlops.
Gretzky played three highly productive seasons with the Bulls from 1989-1992. He still ranks fifth and seventh all-time in career assists and points as a Bull. His best season in Belleville came during the 1991-1992 season where he recorded 121 points which still ranks as the sixth highest single season total in franchise history. Following his time with the Bulls, Gretzky played 14 seasons of professional hockey before retiring after the 2005-2006 season.
The Brantford, Ontario native enjoyed much of his professional hockey success in the UHL where he still ranks among the league’s all-time leading scorers while also winning a scoring title during the 1999-2000 season. During his career, he also played thirteen games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring once and adding three assists from 1993-1995. The stint in Tampa Bay gave Gretzky the distinction of being part of the highest scoring brother duo in NHL history along with his older brother and former Bulls co-owner Wayne.
Click here to visit the 2008 Allan Cup Website
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