Odgers Speaking at Field of Dreams on Friday

This week's Swift Current Indians Field of Dreams Dinner just got another big name added to the ticket.

Headlined by CFL receiving legend and Saskatchewan Roughrider Geroy Simon, the banquet on Friday at the Royal Canadian Legion will now also include former NHLer Jeff Odgers.

"Spent quite a bit of time in Swift Current in the last couple years with my youngest son Dakota playing for the Broncos," he said. "Really enjoyed my time in the community and when I got asked to come speak for it I jumped at it."

Odgers played over 800 games in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and the Atlanta Thrashers. He has also spent time as a colour commentator in both the NHL and junior hockey since retiring from playing and has enjoyed speaking at different functions as well.

Jeff Odgers Interview"I've done quite a few since I came back home," Odgers said. "You have a great time. You meet a great bunch of people. Everybody is there for the same reason to have a great time and raise some money. To be able to do it with guys like Geroy Simon is a lot of fun... great guys who are also great speakers and have great stories to tell."

The Spy Hill product has a career's worth of stories to tell.

"A few stories on my road to the NHL," Odgers said. "You sit down and you get thinking about it and it's amazing how many different things have happened. Some funny and some not so funny."

"I think a lot of people wonder what it's like to play in the NHL and wonder what it's like to play the role of an enforcer going up against guys like Bob Probert and Georges Laraque."

Odgers compiled a total of 2364 penalty minutes in 821 regular season games. He also scored 75 goals and 70 assists for 145 points.

"Unfortunately I think it is getting weeded out," he noted. "I think when used properly it is a good tool. I believe it does keep people honest. I believe if you have repercussions for your actions and you have to stand up physically it is going to change how you play."

Since retiring he has had the chance watch his sons Dakota and John play junior hockey in the WHL and SJHL. Dakota and John even won the SJHL championship together in Yorkton last season before Dakota started his WHL career in Swift Current this season. He has noticed some changes since his days in Brandon.

"The players are much more skilled," Odgers said. "The players are much better skaters. They're given a lot more opportunities, they're more educated on training and diet and all those things."

"When you used to watch junior hockey everyone had their own distinct skating style... now when you watch the guys they all kind of have the same stride... they're all good with the puck, the can all shoot the puck, they're all great skaters and I think the overall skill level has come up in junior hockey."

Now Swift Current fans have had a chance to watch his son Dakota play as a rookie with the Broncos. Jeff remembers how much is son loved the game even as a young child.

"I was playing in Atlanta and he was probably 4-years-old," Odgers said. "I didn't score a lot of goals and every time we went to the game he wanted to see his score a goal. I was eating my pre-game meal and he sat down beside me and drew out a diagram in crayon of where I should stand and who was going to pass me the puck so he could see his dad score a goal."

"I know I do some broadcasting in the WHL and there are days where I wish I had his memory to remember stats and players."

The Field of Dreams Banquet presented by Innovation Credit Union will begin with cocktails at 6:00 pm followed by dinner at 7:00pm.

There will also be live and silent auctions at the end of the evening.

The event is technically sold out but there is still a few individual tickets still available.

If you are interested in purchasing a ticket(s) please contact Brad Woods at 772-0471 or by email at brad.woods@sasktel.net.

The Field of Dreams has operated for fifteen years, and has been a major supporter of our Swift Current Indians Baseball Club. Some of their most significant projects in support of the ball club include; initial capital for the installation of the light standards, stadium seating at Mitchell Field as well as new uniforms and equipment on a scheduled renewal plan.