Skorodenski, McTaggart on NHL alumni line-up

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Thursday, 04 February 2010 20:11

By Benjamin Gordon Two NHL alumni who will be displaying their skill at the Maple Creek Community Arena on April 9 and 10 for the 4-on-4 Celebrity Tournament are former Blackhawk goalie Warren Skorodenski and Washington Capital defenseman Jim McTaggart. Skorodenski, who was born in Winnipeg Mar. 22, 1960, signed on as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1979 after two seasons with the WHL Calgary Wranglers. After one more season in Calgary and moving through the AHL and IHL, he debuted in the NHL in the 1981-82 season where he played one game before playing for the AHL New Brunswick Hawks for the remainder of the year. It was that season that he was awarded the Harry Holmes Memorial Award for fewest goals against, sharing it with Bob Janecyk. A few more years of AHL and CHL prepped Skorodenski for his first entire season with the Blackhawks in 1984-85. Since he saw limited playing time with the Blackhawks in the playoffs, he went to the AHL for the next season. Six more games in the NHL followed, three for the Edmonton Oilers after signing as a free agent in 1987. The next year saw Skorodenski play with Team Canada at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, and retirement soon followed in 1990. Jim McTaggart of Weyburn, Sask. started his hockey career with the SJHL Swift Current Broncos at the age of 16 in 1976. Through 1978 to 1979 he played with the Saskatoon Blades and the Billings Bighorns until he was signed to a free-agent contract with the Washington Capitals in November of 1979. When he joined the Capitals roster in the 1980-81 season he played 52 games and scored one goal and seven points. The next year saw him play in another 19 games bringing in two more goals and six points. McTaggart continued his professional play in the minors with the Wichita Wind and Montana Magic in the CHL and the Moncton Alpines of the AHL. Retirement only kept McTaggart out of the hockey world until 1987 when he played 28 games with the Peterborough Pirates of the British Hockey League where he contributed nine goals and 33 points.