Anyone that happened to catch After Hours (Hockey Night in Canada’s post-game show) on Feb. 12, most likely saw players from the local Pee Wee rep team.
The boys won a Vancouver Canucks poster contest and their prize consisted of a trip to Vancouver to watch the Canucks host the Calgary Flames (a 4-2 win for Vancouver) amongst other things and it was an amazing experience, said the boys.
“First we went down and had some dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory and we stayed at the Hyatt (Regency) and the next morning we went to (morning) practice,” recollected assistant captain Bryden Thomas.
“We also got a tour of Rogers Arena,” added captain Evan Gorman.
The rep team also had an opportunity to meet some of the Canucks – Mason Raymond, Jannik Hansen and
Jeff Tambellini – and they had the opportunity to interview Kevin Bieksa during the After Hours show.
The boys were excited to ask questions of Bieksa and hosts Kelly Hrudey and Scott Oake but they admitted that they suffered from a little stage fright.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” admitted Gorman.
When asked what former NHLer Hrudey was like, Wyatt Barwick described him as funny while Gorman said he “laughs a lot.”
They also had compliments for Bieksa as they also thought he was nice.
The players also were amazed at Rogers Arena, although some areas were off limits to the players.
“We weren’t allowed to go to the dressing room,” explained Jorrin McIver.
“We watched a guy on TV touring around with a camera,” added Thomas.
The players said the trip was long but fun and will likely remember it for years to come.
For video of Gorman, Thomas, McIver and Barwick talking about the trip, go online to www.grandforksgazette.ca.