CFL alumni, Grey Cup headed to Saint John
Event: Fundraising event will benefit PRO Kids charity

By Jeff Ducharme
Published in the Telegraph-Journal on March 30, 2011
Appeared on Page B6

SAINT JOHN - Bruce Smith and Darin Burns know football can change lives. They've both seen it and lived it.

Smith, who won a Grey Cup ring with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, will join fellow Tiger-Cat alumni and friend Burns in Saint John May 11-14 to raise money for PRO Kids. Some of the league's most memorable players will join them as they hold a youth football camp. Hall of Famers Angelo Mosca and Less Browne along with Ti-Cat greats Leo Ezerins, Mike Walker, Rod Skillman, Tony Champion and Ken Evraire will all help with the coaching duties at the Canada Games Stadium during the three-day camp. The Tiger-Cat alumni will be joined by former Ottawa Rough Rider centre Irv Daymond, B.C. Lion and Toronto Argonaut alumni slotback Jan Carinci and NHL star Ryan Walter. Walter will act as the strength and conditioning coach for the camp.

They're also bringing a special guest with them - the Grey Cup.

Coming from a broken home, football gave Smith a path to a college education and a life he never dreamed of.

"I know for myself that was really the impetus for me to move forward in my life and I know hundreds and hundreds of guys that can say the same thing," Smith said.

Smith met Burns when he was only 15. Burns had been hanging out at the Argos practices when Smith saw the teen hitchhiking home one day after football had finished. Smith took Burns under his wing and got him involved in football.

It changed the teen's life.

"You just never know when you get involved in a person's life what is going to happen," Smith said.

"I never knew what Darin's life was going to turn out like. You just never know."

PRO Kids places underprivileged kids in recreational activities who otherwise couldn't afford to be involved.

Burns now operates Snap Fitness in Riverview where he lives with his wife.

"Bruce Smith was an important part of my life," Burns said.

Smith will also be there when Burns' career ends. The defensive lineman will suit up for the Saint John Wanderers of the Maritime Football League as they play an exhibition game against the Ottawa Invaders from the Northern Football Conference May 14 at 7 p.m. to cap the three-day camp.

"It's kind of ironic he's going to be there when I walk off the field," Burns said.

In 2009, he came out of retirement and played for the Moncton Mustangs. The following season he was named a Maritime Football League All-Star.

Burns also wants to take the chance to give Evraire, a former teammate and the coach of the Ottawa squad, a little bit of grief.

"I wanna go there and give him some grief in the backfield," Burns said.

"When I take my helmet off, that's it. I'm finished.

"Forty-seven that's it," he said of his age. "Enough of beating up 23-year-olds," he said with a laugh.

The Wanderers will also welcome back to the fold key players Alan Shepard at centre, Roger Muise at safety and defensive lineman Jay Stephens as the team undergoes a gridiron renaissance.

Before the Wanderers game, the young players involved with the camp will scrimmage and show off the skills they've learned. And, of course, the Grey Cup will be on hand throughout so people can have their pictures taken with the storied piece of hardware and some of the CFL's greats. The Grey Cup will also make a number of appearances in Moncton before it comes to Saint John.

"I got into football because of the goodness of somebody and I'm walking out of football doing some goodness," Burns said. "We want to raise some money for the PRO Kids and raise money for underprivileged kids in sports. That's what this whole thing is about."

A coaching clinic will also be offered.

While the details of the event are still being worked out, more information is available by emailing anthony.capson@xerox.com.