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Providence, RI (May 27, 2007): Bob Leduc, one of the best and most
popular players to wear the uniform of the Rhode Island Reds during the
mid-1960s and early 1970s, has been selected to receive the R. I. Reds Heritage
Society’s 2007/08 “Tops Award.” Leduc, who settled in Burrillville after his lengthy hockey career, will receive the award at the society’s seventh annual reunion at Goddard State Park in Warwick on Sunday, August 5. The society presents the distinguished award annually as a tribute to the late Zellio Toppazzini, Reds’ “Player of the Century.” It is the highest honor given by the seven-year-old historical association and is awarded for outstanding contributions to the old Reds hockey club and for public service as a citizen in the broader Rhode Island community. Leduc played seven full seasons (1965-72) with the Reds in the American Hockey League before moving to the World Hockey Association in 1973 with Ottawa Nationals and later the Toronto Toros. With the Reds, the strong left wing scored 135 goals and had 202 assists for 337 points. Like many ex-Reds players, Leduc has been successful as a businessman in his post-hockey years. The father of two daughters owns a large complex in North Smithfield that includes a hardware and garden store, complemented by a gift shop. The 650-member historical society’s seventh reunion has been designated “Hall of Fame Weekend.” Plans are being made to pay tribute to eight former Reds who are honored members of either the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto or the newly established American Hockey League shrine. Scheduled to show are Hockey Hall of Fame goalies Johnny Bower and Eddie Giacomin, defensemen Allan Stanley and Ferny Flaman, forward Milt Schmidt, and athletic trainer Tom Woodcock, a Providence native. Goaltender Gil Mayer and center Willie Marshall, the AHL’s all-time leading scorer, will represent ex-Reds honored by the league. Bower, Aldo Guidolin, Bob Robertson and Ray Ross --- all members of the Reds last Calder Cup championship team of 1955-56 --- have chartered a bus from Toronto that will transport ex-Reds players living in Canada to the reunion. Out-of-state players visiting the reunion will receive three nights of complimentary hotel accommodations through the society’s “Host a Hockey Hero” program and its generous corporate and individual sponsors. As in the past, Sunday’s reunion at Goddard’s carousel building is expected to draw its capacity of three-hundred persons. Both members and non-members of the society are welcome to attend the festivities that will include an all-you-can-eat cookout, music from the 50s and 60s, and ceremonies honoring players in attendance. Cost for the event is $30 per adult, $15 for children ages 6-12, and no charge for kids under six. Deadline for reservations will be July 14. Further information about reservations and sponsorship opportunities will be available by calling the society’s office at 401-247-2666. For further information call 401-247-2666 or e-mail UNH1959@aol.com. |
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