It will be years before these kids get the chance to play on Hockey Night in Canada, but they made their debut just the same, Saturday night.
The Prince George Atomic Bruins (under 11) were featured between periods of the Edmonton Oilers game against the Anaheim Ducks, where members of the team welcome viewers to Prince George and talk about the coming NHL games.
Their coach, Sony Legault calls it a “Once in a lifetime experience” for the kids, who all came together with their families for a party at Boston Pizza to watch Hockey Night on the big screen.
Looking over his excited team, he feels just as excited for them. “They’re so happy, it’s like a dream for them, to see themselves on TV, maybe one day they will be on all the time,” he says. “They feel like pros.”
Legault, who’s son also plays on the team, stepped in to coach when he heard one was needed.
“I never coached before, but I said yes,” he says. “I had to take all of the courses online.”
It has been a learning curve for Legault and the team, both starting with minimal experience, “It was rough,” he says. “We were losing all the games, but now they are all learning fast, they’re like a family now. They’ve gown up so much, we go to Cougars games together, now this, being on TV for Hockey Night in Canada, and on Friday, we’re going to a Spruce Kings game together. It looks like they’re having a lot of fun, and I’m having fun doing it too.”
“Some of them, went from nothing, they’re a 100% improvement on that team,” Legault says with pride.
A Rogers camera crew stopped by the Bruins’ practice at Kin 3 on Thursday to film the segments.
The Bruins play in the Prince George Minor Hockey Association atom Tier 2 division.
