Jason Kelly may only be 10 years-old, but he has already experienced a trip of a lifetime.
On Aug. 11, Kelly, and a group of the best atom hockey players in western Canada took off to Europe to take part in a hockey journey most players can only dream of.
For two weeks, Kelly and the rest of his Canada Cowboys teammates took on some of the best teams in eastern Europe as they played nine games, in as many days.
Richard and Melanie Kelly, proud parents, said the Canada Cowboys are a group of teams based in Canmore, Alta., dedicated to developing the best young hockey players in Canada.
Western Canada, more specifically, Richard said.
“The Cowboys take the best of young hockey players in Western Canada and give them a chance to play against the best players in their age group,” he said, adding that it is quite an honour to be selected for the team.
Before any player is invited to play for the Cowboys, a Top Guns (the company that organizes the tour) development scout watches players throughout the winter to make sure they have the skills to fit in with the team.
Richard believes his son was scouted during a Barrhead Atom Hawks game in January. This year Jason will be entering his third year playing Atom level hockey in the Barrhead Minor Hockey Association.
Before the team left for Europe, on July 20 to 24, the players gathered in Canmore for a week long training camp. The purpose of the camp was not only to learn the systems the team would play, but to get to know each other and gel as a group.
“They (coaches) worked them pretty hard,” Richard said, adding that everyday the players were on the ice by 8 a.m. and weren’t off the ice until after 3:30 p.m.
Three-days later the team was off to Europe and Ceske Budejovice, in the Czech Republic, for a two-game, three team, mini tournament.
Despite their jet lag, the team played an extremely strong game against their Czech opponents.
“I think they were playing mostly on adrenaline,” Melanie, who accompanied her son on the trip, said, adding that the team won by a 17 to 0 score.
“In the game Jason had two goals and three assists,” she said proudly.
The Cowboys took their next game with a score of 4 to 1, winning the tournament.
From there, the team went on to Prague to play in a five team tournament, the Czech Cup Challenge, consisting of teams mostly from eastern Europe.
“It was a pretty busy schedule,” Melanie said. “The boys were playing everyday, mostly in the afternoons.”
In the mornings, the team took part in various sightseeing tours. “Not only in the Czech Republic,” she said, adding that one of the more memorable trips was to Venice, Austria.
In the second tournament, the team continued its strong play and ended up in the gold medal match with a three win, two loss record.
“It was such an exciting game,” Melanie said.
The Cowboys were leading 4 to 3, but a rally late in the third period by their Czech Republic team opponents cost the Canadians the victory.
“They scored the tying goal with about three minutes to go and that seemed to rattle our goaltender and he lost focus and the winning goal was one of those silly goals that I’m sure he would like back,” she said.
However the team bounced back, winning a final exhibition game, before returning home on Aug. 8.
“It was a great two weeks and it really was a trip of a lifetime,” Melanie said.
At least the trip of a lifetime so far, after all Jason is only 10 years old.