Saturday was an important day for the Reed family.
 
So much so that Derrick Reed grew a special Wendel Clark-style moustache, matching the ones he drew on the faces of his three young sons.
 
“The kids are big hockey fans and we live in Porcupine Plain which is only a half hour drive from Kelvington. I was a big Wendel Clark fan growing up and now these boys have kind of grown into it and it was a big day on the calendar,” Reed said.
 
“We were going to shut down the combine today if we had to but we just got done in time.”
 
The Reed family was excited for Wendel Clark Day in Kelvington. From left are Cruz, Nickson, Oakley and their father, Derrick.
 
On Wendel Clark Day, his hometown of Kelvington unveiled a banner of Clark that used to hang at the Air Canada Centre and renamed Railway Avenue as Wendel Clark Way, and Clark posed for photos to raise money for the arena.
 
The almost 51-year-old man who racked up 330 goals and 1,690 penalty minutes over 793 NHL games started to choke up as he addressed the hundreds of people cramped in the area for the banner ceremony.
 
"Sorry I can't get through this. It's easier to get mad," he said, getting some laughs from the crowd.
 
Speaking to reporters later, Clark said he's done many events like this lately - but this one affected him more.
 
"You're talking about yourself and you're so honoured to be a part of the Toronto Maple Leaf history and then coming back in front of family and friends, that's a choke-up. Because you know everybody out there and so that is one of the things I have a tough time doing - when you're talking in front of people you know and you're just hugely honoured with the whole process that's happening to you."
 
Clark played in Toronto for 13 of his 15 seasons, retiring in 2000 at the age of 33. He's now an ambassador for the team.
 
Ken VanOs, who coached Clark as a youngster, remembers him as a hard worker.
 
“Tough. But absolutely dedicated.”
 
On one occasion a young Clark and his brother jumped on the ice scrapers the minute practice was finished and were done so fast their father thought they hadn't started when he arrived at the rink, VanOs said.
 
Clark deserves the honour of the town, he said.
 
“He worked so hard. Even on the farm, Les would make them work hard.”
 
Mayor Tracey Sauer likes to tell the story of how she taught Clark to fight.
 
“It was in Grade 1 or 2. We went to school together forever, and he stole my swing. I'm from a big family and I'd have no part of that, so we got into a fight. And I won.”
 
Clark is more than just a hockey player for the town - he's a role model, she said.
 
“I think it's because people look up to him. Because he has always remained humble. He's always remembered his roots. He's always shown respect. Knowing that a farm boy from Saskatchewan can do it all if they have that determination, he's a wonderful role model for all the kids - and the adults.
 
"We know that if Wendel can do it and work that hard, anybody can do whatever they want to do.
 
 
John Wog, for one, isn't much of a Toronto Maple Leafs fan - but he is a fan of Clark.
 
“I haven't seen too much of superstars around in the area lately, and it's good to see him coming back to the hometown and wanting to say thanks," he said after getting an 8x10 poster of Clark signed.
 
“More NHLers should come back to their hometowns and do this stuff.”