KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Star-struck Canadian soldiers were girding for a battle of a different sort Wednesday as a team of National Hockey League veterans,
the Stanley Cup in tow, touched down on a mission to boost military morale. Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff, and Defence Minister Peter MacKay were
also on hand as the towering silver trophy went on display on the tarmac at Kandahar Airfield for the second time in less than a year.
MacKay, who was on his way home after a top-secret three-day visit, likened the mood among the troops to that of a kid on Christmas Eve. "The soldiers on the base
- there's probably a few of them who didn't sleep last night in anticipation of getting to play against some of their heroes, getting to see the Stanley Cup," he said.
"It's just a huge morale boost."
Mark Napier, a two-time Cup winner who played with the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers, was among the players who visited last April for several games
against what turned out to be a scrappy team of soldiers. "We've got plenty of beef," Napier grinned. "They pushed us around a little last year, so we brought a little
more muscle." That includes enforcers like former Canadiens winger Chris Nilan and Bob Probert, who racked up more than 3,000 penalty minutes over a 15-year
career with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.
Conspicuous by his absence, however, was legendary tough guy Tiger Williams, who was expected to make the trip but ended up being delayed in Yellowknife, Napier
said. "When we were thinking about people to come, y'know, the troops love the tough guys, so this year we loaded up with tough guys," he said. "I'm sure the troops
will love having a chat with them, get their autographs and just generally take their minds off the war for a while." Also on the ground at Kandahar Airfield were
country-rock crooners Blue Rodeo, Montreal rocker Jonas Tomalty, Newfoundland songstress Lori Anna Reid and singer-songwriter Gregg Lawless.
But there was little doubt that the true star attraction was hockey's gleaming Holy Grail. "For Canadians, I mean, this symbolizes something that every young boy or girl
grows up dreaming about - playing for the Stanley Cup," MacKay said. The group arrived via military transport, which can often be a daunting experience for first-timers
who aren't used to what's typically a sharp and steep landing manoeuvre.
Despite a propensity for air sickness, Jim Cuddy, Blue Rodeo's lead singer, said he rather enjoyed watching the landing from the cockpit, along with Tomalty and former
Toronto Maple Leaf Mike Gartner. "We had that Hercules just kind of singing up there," Gartner said of the landing. "We were able to watch the great skill of the pilots
as they manoeuvred this great, huge flying dump truck into (Kandahar Airfield)."
Hillier and the players mingled briefly on the tarmac with MacKay as soldiers posed for photos with Hillier, the minister and the cup. Hillier, an outspoken and long-suffering
Leafs fan, took great delight in pointing out where on the cup he hopes - nay, expects - to see his team's name etched after the playoffs. "This is the location right here,"
he said, only half-jokingly. "It's blank right now, but this is where the Toronto Maple Leaf roster will be in June of this year." MacKay couldn't resist jabbing back. "And
here's the last time they were on the cup, right here," he said, pointing to the names of the 1967 champions.
Before winging his way back to Ottawa, MacKay said it will be an invaluable opportunity for soldiers to recharge their batteries in an environment known for back-breaking
work, long hours and the ever-present threat to life and limb. "It's an escape from the day-to-day challenges and the real work that they're doing here," he said. "To have
a nice little repose, a little opportunity to engage in some friendly competition, to play with these NHL stars, to listen to Blue Rodeo ... brings them home. It's a piece of home in Kandahar."
Both Hillier and Brig.-Gen. Guy Larose, the senior Canadian commander in Afghanistan, are expected to suit up Thursday for the first of several games between soldiers
and the NHL players.
