WESTLOCK — Members of the Westlock U7-3 Warriors got to live the dream of hockey players young and old when they took to the ice at Rogers Place during the first-period intermission of the Feb. 27 Edmonton Oilers matchup against the Boston Bruins.
As part of Ford Small Stars program, the 10 members of the Warriors played a five-minute, half-ice tilt against each other — split into Team Blue and Team White — while their coaches and parents cheered them on along with the 18,347 in attendance at that game which ended 3-2 in favour of the Bruins.
Team manager Patty Tulloch said the Warriors, ages four and five, were understandably excited throughout, but especially when they saw members of the Edmonton Oilers walking towards them before they hit the ice.
“Our little team lined up along the hallway and they got to do a fist pump for each of the Oilers that came through so that was pretty cool for them. Hunter the (Oilers) mascot was there and he was the ref of the game. It was really good and all of the kids skated hard and did really well out there,” she said.
Looking back now, Tulloch said the experience is one the kids and their parents will never forget.
“Some of (them) are just getting into the hockey scene but everyone knows of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaital, so to be able to be on that ice and give them a little fist pump as they walk by, I think is something these little guys will remember and definitely something that they can think about as they get older,” she said. “They were pretty excited about it. These little guys have improved immensely since the first part of the season. It was awesome and it was the best way to top off our year.”
