The 23rd annual “Legends for Lights Pheasant Jamboree” was put on by the Northern Lights Athletic Scholarship Foundation (NLASF) over the weekend. Former professional football, baseball, and hockey players were in Havre for trap shooting, pheasant hunting, and an awards dinner.
Robb Nen is currently ranked 25th on Major League Baseball’s all-time saves list. The Southern California native has no connection to the Hi-Line but does have the connection to the Erickson’s. Nen appreciates the small-town vibes that Havre has and also knows that being here helps the community financially.
“They needed some ex-players, and I was one of them and so I’ve been coming,” Nen said. “(I’m here b)eing around in this little town and getting to know people and having the chance to do a little pheasant hunting and walking around with dogs and raising money for a good cause.”
On Friday afternoon, these “legends” came to the Boys and Girls Club of the Hi-Line to sign autographs for local kids. New Media Broadcasters caught up with some of the ex-players and coaches, like Bill Kollar, an ex-NFL player and coach who won Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos.
Kollar said he heard about this opportunity through Max Erickson, a name people in Havre will recognize from his time at MSU-Northern.
“(Erickson) had contacted me and mentioned about coming up here for (this) and I couldn’t say yes any quicker than I did because I’ve been coaching for the last 34 years (in the NFL),” Kollar said. “The kids really enjoy this stuff and it’s good to talk to them about what sports they’re playing. It’s a really enjoyable day.”
Another first-time participant was Dane Fletcher, who played football locally at Montana State before making it to the NFL as an undrafted free agent, suiting up for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fletcher jumped at the chance to meet with the local youth and show them that athletes from Montana can make it big.
“That’s what it’s about,” Fletcher said. “I heard that I could come up here and sign autographs for the kids and be around them and show them that there’s an opportunity for them if they want to work hard and do the right thing for sport (that) they have that at their fingertips.”
Casey Fitzsimmons grew up in nearby Chester and played at Carroll College the Detroit Lions signed him in the 2000s. Fitzsimmons brings back around the point of what these events are for; to raise money for MSU-Northern athletics, but to also pay it forward for the next generation of athletes as well.
“There have been some great athletes to come out of Havre: Gary Wagner, Marc Mariani, Matt Kegel, Justin Kegel,” Fitzsimmons said. “There’s been a pile of them.”
“Anytime you can help out a kid and give them a chance to dream about playing in the NFL,” Fitzsimmons continued. “It also shows them that there is an avenue to fulfill a dream of playing professional athletics.”
