COVID-19 may have ended their school year early, but the athletes at Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, still got sent out with a star-studded banquet.

A slew of current and former NHL players, including Rick Middleton, Theo Fleury and Mark Jankowski, prominent women's players Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Jayna Hefford and Marie-Philip Poulin, NHL referee Wes McCauley and NHL linesman Steve Barton were guest award presenters at the school's virtual athletic awards banquet.

Georges Laraque served as virtual master of ceremonies, Middleton, ex-NHL players Guy Larose, Sheldon Souray and John Scott also presented awards, and Hockey Hall of Famer Bernie Parent and former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Wendel Clark each offered congratulations to the Rebels and Warriors athletes.

Actors Gerry Dee, Greg Proops and Colin Mochrie, former Olympic gold medalist Jamie Sale and Indycar racer James Hinchcliffe were also among the 33 celebrity award presenters for the school, located about halfway between Montreal and Ottawa.

According to The Review of Vankleek Hill, Barton, a graduate of the school, came up with the idea of a star-studded banquet when he spoke with physical education teacher Dan Tremblay. Barton suggested Tremblay reach out to McCauley, which he did before contacting stars from all walks of life.

"I started sending messages to anybody who I could see that was either on social media or had a 'contact us' page and told them what I was doing and why I was doing it," Tremblay told The Review. "I went so far as to ask famous people who would never do it in 100 years because they are so bombarded with messages, but the majority of people said 'yes' right away."

The virtual banquet dropped on YouTube on June 19.

HAMPTON - When Bruins legend Rick Middleton moved to New Hampshire two decades ago, he said he was certain Hampton was where he wanted to be.

“My first and only choice was Hampton,” said Middleton Tuesday as town and beach officials honored him on the Seashell Stage for having his No. 16 retired by the Bruins last fall. “This town has been very good to me.”

Middleton, the Bruins’ third all-time scorer with 402 career goals, has lived in Hampton since 1997, first at North Beach before moving to the west side of town. His number was retired and raised to the TD Garden rafters last October, which local officials decided was worth celebrating with Hampton’s summer crowd. They named Tuesday “Nifty Night,” Middleton’s nickname being Nifty as a player. Tuesday, July 16, was chosen with Nifty’s number in mind.

Selectman Regina Barnes read a proclamation from the town honoring and thanking him, while representatives from the Hampton Beach Village District presented him with their own plaque. Both mentioned local community service that has included help raising money for Hampton’s soup kitchens and the Hampton Youth Association.

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What a great night! Congratulations to Griffin Bouchard and his family and friends on their 2018 Holiday Skate! Griffin’s fifth year of raising money for the Boston Children’s Hospital’s Concussion Prevention/Brain Trauma Center proved to be their most successful event yet!

The Holiday Skate featured Rick Middleton on December 19th at the Johnson Rink in Hamilton. Along with Middleton, other former Bruins who have joined the skate in recent years include Bob Sweeney, Andrew Alberts and Mark Mowers, along with Bruins mascot Blades.

Rick Middleton, whose slick moves en route to 448 career goals earned him the nickname "Nifty," saw his No. 16 raised to the rafters by the Boston Bruins before Thursday night's 2-1 shootout win against the New York Islanders at TD Garden.

Middleton, who played the final 12 of his 14 NHL seasons in Boston, scored 40 or more goals and amassed more than 90 points over a stretch of five consecutive seasons starting in 1979-80.
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"I've had four months to think about it, and I hate repeating myself, but honestly, I believe it is the biggest honor that certainly a retired athlete can get in his career,'' he said.

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