Edmonton, Alberta – Ben Guite grew up in the city, Montreal, where hockey was born and went to many games as a youngster in the building considered one of the sport’s greatest shrines, the Forum.
But it was with some wide-eyed wonder that Guite stood in the visitors’ dressing room of Rexall Place on Wednesday morning.
Not just because of the retired numbers of players such as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Jari Kurri hanging from the rafters. For the Avalanche’s Guite, it was the knowledge that his father, Pierre, once played in the same building as a member of the Edmonton Oilers.
“He told me stories of sitting right next to Gretzky in the dressing room. It’s pretty neat to be here for the first time in the NHL,” Guite said.
Pierre Guite, who works in real estate in Florida, played parts of two seasons with the Oilers from 1977-79 in the World Hockey Association. He also played with the Quebec Nordiques for five seasons after being the 26th player taken in the 1972 NHL draft.
“I know he really liked playing here, and so I’m sure he’s happy I got to play in the same building,” Guite said.
Footnotes
Avalanche defenseman Karlis Skrastins isn’t quite healthy enough to return to the lineup. Coach Joel Quenneville said Skrastins could return from a sprained knee Sunday against Vancouver. … Defenseman Jordan Leopold (broken wrist) has not resumed practicing with the Avs, and might not return in the regular season. Quenneville said he wasn’t sure when Leopold might return. … Avs rookie Wojtek Wolski had one goal in his previous 13 games entering Wednesday. … Paul Stastny, an enthusiastic soccer player in the offseason, has joined the Avs’ game- day soccer kick-arounds that the team started doing last season. At the Wednesday morning skate, Stastny stood in a circle and kicked the ball with, among others, Joe Sakic, Tyler Arnason, Ian Laperriere and Peter Budaj. … The Avs will practice today at Rexall Place and play there again Friday night.
