2 Sweet homecoming for six
by Hosea C
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The Super Series is over, but for six players, the end was where it all began.
With the final game played in Vancouver, a small contingent of Canadian players who call British Columbia their home were able to see familiar faces in the crowd.
Kyle Turris, Milan Lucic, Karl Alzner, Colton Gillies, Zach Hamill and Ty Wishart all hail from B.C., where they first set skates on the ice.
For some, it was a rare opportunity to return.
“My mom and dad were both here and to have them see me play in person, which doesn’t happen very often,” says Burnaby native Alzner, who scored Canada’s first goal in game eight. “It’s nice to get that opportunity.”
Opportunities are aplenty for this 18-year-old defencemen as he is finally realizing his boyhood hockey dream.
“When you’re a kid, you always say you want to make it to the NHL and I was the exact same way, but when you see these guys playing junior hockey and in the NHL, it just seems like it’s so far away,” he says. “But last year was when I realized I had a chance to be here.”
Having led the defensive unit during the tournament, Alzner is a shoo-in for the 2008 World Junior Hockey Championships. So are two of his fellow B.C. residents, whose contributions played a large role in Canada’s triumph.
Lucic and Turris are now well-known Canadian hockey fans as they led the team with mesmerizing poise.
Vancouver Giants’ and Canadian captain Lucic was born and raised in Vancouver, where his hulking size and hard-hitting style earned him a spot as the team leader. Always on the delivering end of a crunching bodycheck, this 6’2”, 220 lb. forward’s presence is distinguishable.
However, he’s ready to leave home.
“Obviously I want to go to Boston and have a good camp, turn some heads and get my feet in the door,” he says. “Who knows what can happen, anything can happen.”
New Westminster forward Turris lived up to the hype, leading the team with seven goals. The Phoenix Coyote’s third overall draft choice hopes to take it step by step when it comes to his future.
“I’m going to go down to Wisconsin and hopefully have a good year and then I’ll be in close contact with Phoenix and see what they have to say after the season,” he says.
But he won’t soon forget his origin.
“My parental guidance and support was unbelievable,” he says. “I was lucky to go to a good school and play and learn from some great players and coaches.”
The remaining Pacific-ers had lesser roles, but it shouldn’t be overlooked.
Port Coquitlam’s Hamill finished with six points in the series, while Surrey’s Gillies scored two goals. Blueliner Wishart of Comox helped shut down opposing Russian forwards.
Whether it is minimal or instrumental, these skaters’ effort led Canada to a lopsided victory over Russia.
Success for these six B.C. players is one thing, but having hometown family and friends witness it live is another.
