Hockey fans in Westlock were given a special treat last Saturday at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre.
On Aug. 23, the BellZ Edge hockey camp wrapped up with a game between its instructors and members of the Westlock Warriors senior ‘AA’ team.
Joining the Warriors and camp instructors on the ice were several camp participants, and Arizona Coyotes centreman and Westlock-area native Kyle Chipchura.
It was Chipchura’s first chance to skate on Spirit Centre ice, having been in attendance at the grand opening ceremony on June 16, 2012.
“It’s a great building,” he said. “It was fun to play in front of the home crowd.”
While playing with minor hockey players and senior ‘AA’ players is not quite the same as going up against Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin or Carey Price, Chipchura said hockey is still hockey — he just didn’t exactly play it like a real game and dialed it back a couple notches.
However, there were times in the third period it was clear he wanted to give the crowd something to cheer about. A few times he made some moves and plays that demonstrated his skill level, and scored a late goal from a sharp angle for his only goal of the game.
Two players who were also camp participants were Blair Boulerice and Jaden Senkoe. Not only were the boys given the chance to play in the game, they were members of Chipchura’s team.
Boulerice simply said it was fun to play with someone like Chipchura.
“He didn’t hog the puck, and he’d pass to you when you were open,” he said. “He’d push you to get open and try to set you up for a goal.”
Senkoe said the opportunity to play in the game with the Warriors and the camp instructors was different from what he was used to.
“I’m used to playing with kids my own age,” he said. “I had to skate a lot faster, because one of their strides is two of mine.”
Camp owner Gord Bell said putting together the game and holding it in front of a large crowd was an “amazing experience.”
He said he had wanted to hold such a game last year, but with it being the first year of the BellZ Edge camp last year, he thought it would be a bit overwhelming to try to pull it off.
Getting the Warriors involved, as well as the instructors and the camp participants, it was a fun experience he added. Plus, with Chipchura scoring one goal, and Warrior Evan Kuhar also notching one, “that was what the home crowd came to see.”
Bell explained getting some of the kids into the lineup served a few purposes, not the least of which was so they could interact with the instructors and Chipchura in a game situation to see what it’s like to play at that level and excel.
Warriors president Joe Kuhar said after the game he was happy to see the camp participants on the ice and not look out of place.
“It’s rewarding to the kids,” he said.
Overall, he felt it was a good game — the players were hitting, but “not to get silly,” as they were working themselves back up to game speed at this point in the late offseason.
Kuhar also gave kudos to Chipchura and AHLer Brent Regner, among the other Westlock products in the game.
“It’s about recognizing your roots and giving back to the community,” he said. “They made a difference. It’s a tribute to them to take time out of their busy schedules to give back to hockey at home.”
