By MATT LINDSEY

The Lake St. Lawrence Winter Chill will see a Montreal Canadiens alumni game, an attempt to break a Guinness world record, and more in Massena, Waddington and Louisville.

Events take place across the three towns from Feb. 13 through 21.

Stéphane Richer, Guy Carbonneau and Chris Nilan are among the Montreal Canadiens alumni coming to Massena Feb. 14 for a game with local players as part of the Lake St. Lawrence Winter Chill Festival and the Canadiens Alumni Tour.

The St. Lawrence River Walleye Association Northern Pike Challenge, originally set for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20 and 21, has been cancelled.

Event organizer Mike Gagner said that due to an extremely warm winter that the event would be cancelled because of thin ice, which creates safety issues.

The fishing tournament was to payout $20,000 in prizes.

The fishing derby is one of several Lake St. Lawrence Winter Chill events set to take place in Massena, Waddington and Louisville Feb. 13-21.

Gagner said it was the first time the event has been cancelled since it was created about 10 years ago and that it will return next year.

Checks will be mailed back to people who prepaid and those owed taxidermy mounts from last year are urged to contact them at www.facebook.com/Lake-St-Lawrence-Winter-Chill-158224227864773/ or contact Gagner at 244-7410 or slrwalleyechallenge@yahoo.com.

“I urge anglers to be very cautious out there…with the rain, wind and unstable weather patterns we’ve had,” Gagner said.

He said no other events for the festival have been cancelled.

NHL Alumni to Play

Two teams from Massena and one from Posdam will skate against the Montreal Canadiens Alumni in their game Feb. 14 at Massena Arena

The list of Canadiens playing also includes veterans Patrice Brisebois, Francis Bouillon, Gilbert Delorme, Mathieu Dandenault, Jocelyn Lemieux, Normand Dupont, and goaltender Richard Sévigny.

Also joining Les Habitants on the ice will be Owen Herne of Buffalo, who paid $1,000 for one of two slots reserved for amateurs who want to play with the Montreal legends. And Mike Wickwire spent the $750 required to sit on the bench with the Habs as an honorary assistant coach.

“I know Mike’s excited to be on the bench, and Owen Herne is super-excited,” said game organizer Mike Gagner.

Tickets to watch the game will be $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Advance tickets are on sale starting in Massena Arena, Coach’s Corner in Massena, MVP Sports in Potsdam, both Buster’s sports bars in Ogdensburg and Canton, Heart to Heart Fitness in Akwesasne and Donovan’s Steak and Ale in Malone.

Guinness World Record Attempt

An attempt to break the Guinness record of 2,036 snowmen built in an hour is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19, depending on snowfall.

The Guinness record of 2,036 snowmen built in an hour was set by a Japanese group in Nagano in February 2015.

“As of now we still plan to do it…with North Country weather we could get two or three feet of snow,” said Bill Lint, who is helping organize the event.

Lint says if the event happens they are “hoping for way more than 2,037.”

The snowpeople will have to be made of three parts, the traditional base, middle and head, plus two eyes, two arms and a nose, but they aren’t exactly sure what the requirements are.

“It is expensive to bring in the Guinness team, so a decision has to be made,” he said.

While the record attempt is underway, people will be able to view it as they pass the school on Rt. 37, or they may view it from the John Story Trail at he school.

“There are lots of places with winter festivals, but we thought we would combine several together, and create a festival that’s a destination point,” said Lint.

For the record attempt, “we need two main things: snow and people,” said Lint.

He said they contacted area colleges and several schools districts to help chip in.

“The schools compete with each other every year…now its time for a friendly competition and to compete against the world,” he said. “How often can you say you helped set a Guinness World Record?”

Anyone who wants to participate can contact Lint at 705-8845 or billlint42@msn.com.

More Things to Do

Teams from New York, Ontario and Quebec will compete in a free sled hockey tournament at the opening of next month’s St. Lawrence Winter Chill.

The Buffalo Warrior Sled Veterans, Ottawa Valley Falcons, Kingston Knights and the Fort Drum Mountain Warriors will compete in a two-day round robin contest.

Games will be Feb. 13 at 11:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. at Louisville Arena and 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. at Massena Arena. Games Feb. 14 will be at 10 and 11:15 a.m. at Louisville Arena.

There will be fundraisers at all games for the Wounded Warrior sled hockey program.

The inaugural Winter Chill Dance is slated for 7 p.m., with all proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Massena.

"We have been working on the details for the past several months to make sure this is truly a special night out," Emily Currier, event chairperson, said. "We wanted to give people a great reason to get dressed up, go out and enjoy a night of fun, food and live music."

Hosted at the Copper Still Steakhouse, 9999 State Highway 56, Massena, the Winter Chill Dance will feature music with local band “Plan B," hot & cold hors d’oeuvres, full service cash bar, specialty Winter Chill drinks served in commemorative etched glasses, as well as other ways to contribute to the Boys & Girls Club of Massena, like gift basket raffles, silent auction, a photo booth, cake roses and more.

Tickets at the door are $30 each.

A St. Lawrence Winter Chill 4.5K race will be held Feb. 13 at Whalen Park, continuing onto Whalen Road.

Early registration is at 7:30 a.m. with race time at 9 a.m. Info: 705-7935 or chapmanwendy0@gmail.com

A skeet shoot tourney will be held Feb. 13 at the Massena Rod and Gun Club. A night skiing and snowshoeing event is planned at Nichols train in Waddington on Feb. 14.

The American Cancer Society will host a Relay for Life fundraising dinner on Feb. 15 at the Massena VFW. The “Pasta for People” fundraiser to benefit Shepard LaPage is set for Feb. 16.

A kids carnival will be held Feb. 17 at the Massena Chamber of Commerce.

The Friends of Massena Music Department will host a music showcase on Feb. 18 at The Club in Massena. The firemen’s hockey challenge will be held at Whalen Park in Louisville as well.

Fridays activities include the New York State Snow Sculpting Championship in Waddington, three-on-three pond hockey in Louisville, five-on-five redneck broomball in Waddington, and laser light ice skating, also in Waddington. These events run through Feb. 21.

A kid’s winterfest is planned on Saturday, Feb. 20, at Hawkins Point Visitor’s Center in Massena. Also on Saturday there will be a chicken BBQ at the Massena fire station, Nerf wars on ice at the Massena Arena and human foosball and fireworks at Whalen Park in Louisville.

An antique snowmobile parade will be held in Waddington on Feb. 20 as well.

A Minion character-themed pancake breakfast will be served at the Knights of Columbus in Massena on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost is $5 for children 12 and under, $7 for adults and $20 for an immediate family of four.

The Winter X Spring Challenge takes place at the Massena Arena on Sunday, Feb. 21.

For up-to-date info and more events at the festival visit www.facebook.com/Lake-St-Lawrence-Winter-Chill-158224227864773/.