As children, there are those wide eyed dreams and hero’s that make childhood such a magical time. To take part in a sport or extra circular to be like your hero with hours of hard work, practice, wins and losses builds in the love of the game. Then imagine getting the opportunity to join the pros and hang out with your heroes.
For nine year old Trey Johnson, March 14th will forever be an evening he never forgets. This grade 3 student at Prairie Waters Elementary School has played hockey for five years…..yep, since the tender age of four this youngster has been tearing it up on the ice and plays for the Chestermere Lakers – Novice 3. Last year this talented young man won the “Wheatland Athletic Association Players Choice Award”, which will no doubt always be a memorable event for Johnson, but something tells me what happened last week might top it.
On Monday March 14, 2016, nine year old Trey Johnson took to the ice with the Calgary Flames prior to them facing off with the St. Louis Blues. His mom, Gwen explains, “Trey has been playing hockey for the past 5 years but it wasn’t until this past year that his passion for hockey and the Flames really developed”.
When his mom saw how much he enjoyed watching the Flames on TV or following their every move on her twitter, she decided at the beginning of the Flames season to enter him in the Scotiabank Skater contest. On February 11th Gwen received an email stating “Your day is confirmed!” “Trey was ecstatic when he found out. Since then he has been counting down the days to skate with the Flames and possibly stand beside Johnny!” – of course referring to the talented Johnny Gaudreau who it Trey’s favourite player.
When selected to be the Scotiabank Skater, it is quite the process. A Marketing rep with the Flames met Trey at the Scotiabank Saddledome 1 hour prior to the game and gave him four tickets to the Flames game and a Scotia Hockey Club merchandise pack. Trey was also provided a Flames/Scotiabank Skater Jersey to keep and he got to head down to watch the warm-up and give the players a fist pump as they headed onto the ice.
“He then led the Flames team on the ice carrying a Flames flag and did laps around the ice with the Flames. He got to stand on the blue line next to the starting lineup of the Flames players for the National anthems. Trey was then welcomed on the Energy Board and announced as the Scotiabank Skater”, added Gwen.
Trey and his family then got to enjoy the rest of the game and he will also receive a professional photo of his experience. “His favourite part of the evening was fist pumping the players before they went out for the warm-up. He wished he had his hockey gloves on as his hand got very sore”.
“What a night and experience he will never forget! Thank you Scotiabank and the Calgary Flames for making a dream come true! And the Flames won!!” added Gwen.
