VANCOUVER - Move over, Miracle on Ice.
A team of hockey-playing musicians, including Blue Rodeo frontman Jim Cuddy and Juno nominee Kathleen Edwards, knocked off a group of former NHL greats in the annual Juno Cup.
The musicians, dubbed the Rockers, tied the game at 11 with just seconds to play in regulation and then defeated the squad led by Calgary Flame legend Lanny McDonald in the shootout.
It's the first time the Rockers have beaten the NHL greats in the game's history and Cuddy, punning on the band name of teammates Cam Melnyk and Jesse Wainwright, said the final result left him in a "state of shock."
"I don't know how that happened," Cuddy said after the final horn sounded.
"We're certainly not supposed to win."
Cuddy wasn't the only one surprised by the end result.
"I'm actually very disappointed," said former NHLer Mark Napier.
"The Rockers played well, we'll give them all the credit in the world but our guys took it a little too easy and let the Rockers come back on us. We had a three-goal lead with three minutes to go."
The shocking defeat already had Napier looking ahead to next year.
"We're going to stack the team next year. We're going to have training camp and then practice for a month before we play next year."
His prediction on what the score will be in next year's game? 25-2. In favour of the NHL greats, of course.
Cuddy, clearly savouring the victory as he skated around the ice with the Juno Cup trophy held high above his head, agreed that the 2010 game might be more of an uphill battle.
"I have a feeling we're going to get spanked next year because they're going to be mad," he said.
Playing in front of a half-filled Thunderbird Arena on the University of British Columbia campus, the NHL greats, who also featured Cliff Ronning, Dave Babych and Bob Probert, jumped out to an early 4-0 lead.
They were backstopped by Brian Kobayakawa, a member of the Juno-nominated Creaking Tree String Quartet.
Kobayakawa brought the crowd to its feet on numerous occasions as he stymied the Rockers time and time again.
It was teammate Russ Courtnall who finally put the Rockers out of their misery, snapping a wrist-shot past his own netminder just to get the musicians on the board.
Just before the first half of the tilt came to an end, Edwards was awarded a penalty shot.
Clearly struggling to maintain her balance, she gingerly walked in on Kobayakawa before netting the second goal of the game for the Rockers.
"It was pretty fun. I think I did slip (the goaltender) a couple of beers before the game so I knew my chances would be pretty good," she said.
Intermission consisted of three skills competitions. The Rockers came out on top in the shooting, puck handling and skating drills.
The break also featured a sing-off between Cuddy and McDonald.
With the crowd left to decide which crooner they preferred, McDonald came out on top.
"I put everything into it. I put all my tricks into it, high, low. Lanny has like three notes," Cuddy said.
The Juno Cup has raised more than $700,000 for music programs across Canada since its inception.
The Juno Awards air Sunday on CTV.
