Luncheon with Legends

Golden Bears Hockey Hosts First Annual Alumni Luncheon: A Celebration of Legacy and Growth

The Golden Bears Hockey program proudly hosted its First Annual Alumni Luncheon, bringing together nearly 100 alumni, players, sponsors, and community members across two outstanding events in Calgary and Edmonton. This milestone gathering provided a fantastic opportunity for attendees to network, reconnect with old friends and teammates, and celebrate the enduring legacy of Golden Bears Hockey.

A Memorable Event

With incredible attendance at both luncheons, guests enjoyed a delicious meal, engaged in insightful discussions, and were introduced to the exciting new Partners Circle initiative—a strategic effort to attract new sponsors through three different sponsorship tiers. This initiative aims to strengthen our program’s sustainability and enhance opportunities for our student-athletes.

Esteemed Guest Speakers

We were honored to welcome three distinguished speakers who shared their unique insights on leadership, teamwork, and community impact:

Dr. James Helliwell

A Victoria-based entrepreneur, anesthesiologist, and CEO of Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EPRX-TSX), one of the fastest-growing biotech companies in North America, James spoke about the invaluable leadership and teamwork skills he developed as a student-athlete at Harvard University. He highlighted how these same qualities—so prevalent in the Golden Bears Hockey alumni network—are essential for success in today’s competitive corporate world. James attended both the Calgary and Edmonton luncheons, inspiring all in attendance with his journey from sports to business leadership.

Jakub Brogowski

A former Nordic Combined athlete and one of Canada’s top investment bankers, Jakub now serves as CFO of Kiwetinohk Energy (KEC-TSX), a rapidly growing oil and gas producer based in Calgary. He shared how Kiwetinohk’s partnership with the Golden Bears for the 2024-2025 season has significantly impacted not only his executive team and employees but also the broader community, including a First Nations community in Sturgeon Lake, AB. His speech underscored the meaningful ripple effects that strong partnerships can have beyond the rink.

Dr. Randy Gregg

A name synonymous with Golden Bears Hockey excellence, former Edmonton Oilers player and current leader of the Edmonton Riverhawks Baseball Club, Randy joined us in Edmonton to reflect on the lessons and friendships he forged as a Golden Bear. His inspiring words reinforced the importance of alumni engagement and the collective impact we can have in shaping the future of the program and our local community.

Looking Ahead

The success of this first-ever Golden Bears Hockey Alumni Luncheon has set the stage for continued growth and stronger connections within our alumni network. The introduction of the Partners Circle marks a crucial step toward expanding our support base and ensuring long-term success for Golden Bears Hockey.

With such enthusiastic participation and generous contributions from our sponsors, we look forward to making this an annual tradition that strengthens our community, celebrates our rich history, and supports the next generation of Golden Bears.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and made this event possible. Here’s to a future of continued excellence—on and off the ice!