Atom Chinooks host 3 Hurricanes for a rousing evening of Enmax Pond Hockey

Ceremonial puck drop by Nickalas Crook
Front: Rylan Bruns,Nickalas Crook, Caleb Evans
Rear: Christopher Tai, Thomas Lenchyshyn, Christopher Tai, Harrison Harper
C. Davis photos, T. Lucas video

Chris Davis and Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Yesterday evening, February 20, three members of the Lethbridge Hurricanes paid the Memorial Community Centre Arena a visit to play some pond hockey with the combined members of Pincher Creek's Atom 1 and Atom 2 teams.

Alexandra Morgan

Representing the Hurricanes were Thomas Lenchyshyn, Christopher Tai, and Harrison Harper.

The event began with the singing of 'O Canada' by local singer Alexandra Morgan, followed by a ceremonial puck drop with Rylan Bruns of the Atom 1 Chinooks and Caleb Evans of the Atom 2 Chinooks facing off against each other.  Dropping the puck was Nickalas Crook, who played for the Atom 2 team earlier in the season but was unfortunately forced out for the rest of the year after breaking his foot.

Two teams were created with a mix of players from the two regular Atom teams, making for some unusual combinations of Atom talent. With the Hurricanes thrown into the mix, about 45 minutes of non-stop hockey entertained the crowd. Enmax handed out free cowbells again this year to help raise the excitement levels generated from the stands.

After the game a fundraising auction was held in the foyer of the arena, conducted by Justin Keely of Fort Macleod Auctions with Atom 1 Coach Joe Deley getting the assist. At the same time the Hurricanes signed autographs on souvenir mini hockey sticks provided for the occasion.

Prospect Thomas Lenchyshyn, a big defenceman, joined the Hurricanes last week after his season as a member of the AAA Team Manitoba ended.  Lenchyshyn was a first-round pick of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.  "It's a real honour, I'm really excited," he said.  "It's a great opportunity." When he was younger, Lenchyshyn played in the town of Steinbach, Manitoba.  He was enthusiastic about our young Atoms.  "They were great!  A lot better players than I thought they'd be. It was a really good time, for everyone.  It's good to see that minor hockey rinks are still running strong."

Goaltender Christopher Tai hails from Delta BC. He's been with the Hurricanes the whole season.  "This is my third one," he said of the Enmax Pond Hockey event, "and they've all been tons and tons of fun.  It's great to see that hockey is still going strong.  Where I'm from, the Giants are the home team, and they'd come to our school, but we never had this kind of pond hockey kind of stuff with them. It would have been really cool.  It's awesome knowing that we're a role model for some of these kids."

Right Winger Harrison Harper is from Calgary. "This is my second year with the Hurricanes," he explained.  He was enthusiastic when speaking of the Pond Hockey experience.  "I had a great time, it was awesome playing with the guys, I had a lot of fun.  This was my first time with Pond Hockey, but my fourth time with young kids on the ice with the team, and it's always a pleasure."

"I'm from Calgary, and it was a bit different.  The groups were a bit bigger when we had these interactions.  They were awesome, but these kids lucked out, being from Pincher Creek.  They get more time on the ice, with each of us.  It's a plus.  In Calgary, there was the same amount of time, but more kids.  It was always awesome, and it was a big deal for me, and still is."

As for the Atom Chinooks, to a person they seemed to be thrilled by the experience.  A nice way to head into the playoffs.

The event raised close to $1700 for Pincher Creek Minor Hockey.

Enmax sponsors 10 Pond Hockey games every season, and this was the second to last of 2012/13.  The Calgary Flames will participate in the final Pond Hockey event of the season at the Dover Community Centre on March 14.