Players from the local Atom division, dressed in their 100 Mile House Free Press and Primal Electric Shockers uniforms, put on a great performance at Rogers Arena during the first intermission of the March 30 Vancouver Canucks game.
Group spokesperson Denise Balbirnie says the players all had a great time.
“They went into the arena with a Canucks representative at around 6 p.m., had a little tour, and got to watch the Canucks and Dallas Stars warm up at the ice level. Then they went to their dressing room, where there were couches and a large-screen TV, so they could watch the first period.”
Eventually the Canucks’ mascot Fin came down and met the 100 Mile players, she adds, and then they all went out to play their game. Fin was dressed as a referee when he went out on the ice for the game.
The short-but-sweet mini game ended in a scoreless draw, but each of the 100 Mile youth came away with a memory of a lifetime and the bragging rights to say they played in front of 21,000 fans.
After their game, they went back to their dressing room, changed and then headed up to their seats to watch the second and third periods. They were treated to a great game, as the Canucks knocked off the Stars 5-2.
Balbirnie notes that for some of the players, it was their first opportunity to watch a live NHL game.
“They really liked the noise and excitement in the stands, doing the wave, dancing to the music that played in between puck drops, and eating all the different snack foods from the concessions.”
While most of them got to spend night in the big city, she adds three of them had to drive back to 100 Mile that night because they had to be in Williams Lake for spring hockey practice at 9:30 a.m. the next day.
The players included Brodi Lundquist, Marshall Tessaro, Ryan Balbirnie, Cameron Ardiel, Cameron Mitchell, Tyson Fitzgerald, Spencer Haggstram, Nate Wolstenholme, Tanner Hooper, TJ O’Laney, Julian Bob, Elton Klassen, Ryan Grant, Logan McFee, Dylan Carr, Liam Meger, Emily Menzel, Owen Ross, Owen Pincott, Brandon Taylor, Levi McQueen, Quincy Archie, Wylon Hall, Joe Benastick, Hunter Sperling and William Harrod.
Brandon Balbirnie was the referee for the game.
The coaches were Steve Glen, John Benastick, Danielle Menzel and Mark Grant.
So, was it a thrill for these young 100 Mile hockey enthusiasts?
Let’s read what some of them had to say:
Brodi Lunquist – “I was really nervous and excited, but mostly nervous! The best part was when we played the game and I got to go on the ice.”
Nate Wolstenholme – “My favourite part was when I got the puck during our game.”
Cameron Ardiel – “I wasn’t really that nervous, just really, really excited about playing – excited to be out there.”
Ryan Balbirnie – “I was really nervous before the game, but once I got out there, I wasn’t so nervous any more, just excited. I got to say hello to Ray Ferraro [TSN colour announcer from Trail; he used to play for five different teams in the NHL] and I got Fin’s autograph.”
Emily Menzel – “It was really fun and exciting. I liked watching the game live because we did the wave and I liked when everyone cheered when the Canucks scored. The Jumbotron was cool!”
