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Longtime hockey10K race not just for the hard corescout rememberedMercedes-BenzOakville 10K event with funeralexpanding this yearin Oakvilleto offer more options By Herb GarbuttOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFfor more participantsBy Jon KuiperijThe hockey world turned out en masse in OakvilleBEAVER SPORTS EDITORto pay tribute to E.J. McGuire Tuesday.More than 400 people attended the funeral ser-Looking for an excuse for choosingvice at Mary Mother of God Catholic Church to hon-not to participate in the upcomingour McGuire. But it was the long-time hockey mansMercedes-Benz Oakville 10K?ability to make others stand out in a crowd that hadNick Jelinek, president of thean impact on so many people.InField Marketing Group that orga-He made everyone feel important, said Davenizes the annual event, challengesMcNamara, a teacher at Loyolayou to find one.and a scout for the PittsburghThis years third edition of thePenguins. You could be in anMercedes-Benz Oakville 10K, sched-arena with 2,000 people but if uled for Sunday, May 8 in southyou were talking to E.J., it wasOakville, will feature a couple newlike you were the only two peo-options for participants. A five-kilo-ple there.metre run and power walk has beenThe Oakville resident diedadded to the 10K run and power walk,last Thursday at the age of 581K junior jog and 300m toddler trotfrom a rare form of cancer.that were available last year.Among those at TuesdaysWe wanted to make sure were notservice in Oakville were NHLE.J. McGuireexclusive to really just hard-core run-commissioner Gary Bettman,ners, Jelinek said Wednesday at adeputy commissioner Bill Dalymedia event promoting this yearsand former NHL coach Mike Keenan, who deliveredrace. With a 5K element now, I couldthe eulogy. go in it. Were trying to encourageE.J. was a colleague, a friend and a mentor whoolder and younger Oakvillians in allinfluenced and enriched the hockey lives of thou-our lengths. And theres not just asands of players, coaches, parents and administra-running division, theres a walkingtors in more than 30 years in the game, Colindivision. So really, theres no excuse.Campbell, the NHLs senior executive vice presidentJelinek anticipates more than 2,000of hockey operations, told NHL.com. E.J. had twopeople will participate in this yearsloves in life: His love of family and his passion forMercedes-Benz Oakville 10K, continu-hockey.ing a steady increase in registrantsThe Buffalo native worked as an assistant coachfrom the inaugural event that drewon Keenans staff with the Rochester Americans,MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVERapproximately 1,000 participants inwhere they won a Calder Cup, and then with both2009. More than 1,600 runners andPOPULAR EVENT: Mercedes-Benz Oakville Autohaus general manager Mark the NHLs Philadelphia Flyers and Chicagowalkers participated in last yearsLeRoeye and his dealership are excited about the continued growth of the Mercedes-Benz Blackhawks. One of the early adopters of computersevent.Oakville 10K. This year's event is expected to feature more than 2,000 participants after and video as coaching and scouting tools, McGuireThe growth has been phenomenal.attracting 1,600 people last year and 1,000 at the inaugural event in 2009.helped the Flyers twice reach the Stanley Cup final,Thats what we wanted, he said. Veryincluding 1987 when they took the powerhouseOakville 10K can be attributed to the begin), having a Mercedes-Benz new few events start at 1,000 people andEdmonton Oilers to a seventh and deciding game. high number of running groups and vehicle available as a draw prize, the get to 2,000 by their third year. ThatsMcGuire went on to serve as a head coach withindividuals in the town. They also feel medals are the highest quality medals rare in Canada. Very rare.the Maine Mariners and Hartford Wolf Pack of thethe event offers a bit that exist in Canada, the shirts are Mercedes-BenzAmerican Hockey League and Guelph Storm of theextra value for partici-high-quality shirts.We're trying toOakville Autohaus gen-Ontario Hockey League as well as an assistant withpants."Our corporate supporters behind eral manager Markthe NHLs Ottawa Senators. encourage older andAnyone who finishes this, like New Balance and Mercedes-LeRoeye is also pleasedMcGuire joined the NHLs Central Scoutingyounger Oakvilliansthe 10K race is entered Benz, are all high-end brands, so that with the continuedBureau in 2002 after a second stint as an assistantin all our lengths.into a random draw for a reflects on the event experience growth of the event,coach with the Flyers and took over as the directorAnd there's not justchance to win a one-itself.already the largest com-of Central Scouting in 2005. As director he oversawyear lease of a brand new The Oakville Beaveris the official munity-a running division,based event ina team of 29 scouts to compile a ranking of playersMercedes-Benz. The media sponsor of the Mercedes-Benz the town.to assist NHL teams in the draft.there's a walkingOakville race is the only Oakville 10K. I would say its out-McNamara first met McGuire when he was coach-division. So really, race in Canada to offer a Registration fees range from $60 standing. I dont thinking in Guelph.there's no excuse.car as a draw prize for for the 10K run and power walk to you could have hoped forHe was always a good coach. He paid attention toparticipants.free for the 300m toddler trot.anything better, hedetail and he was a smart hockey man, he said. E.J. Nick Jelinek, InField Its the overall pre-All entry fees from the 1K junior said.was also a great communicator and anyone youMarketing Groupmium experience, jog will go to the United Way of Its becoming a verytalked to loved playing for him. He had time forJelinek added. Being on Oakville.popular event.everyone. He was a great friend to a lot of people.a lakefront campus like Appleby For more information or to regis-LeRoeye and Jelinek noted part of McGuire is survived by his wife Terry and daugh-College (where all the events races ter, log onto www.mercedes10k.comthe popularity of the Mercedes-Benzters Jacqueline and Erin. www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 15, 2011 46