麻豆社区

It was a trip of a lifetime for 10-year-old Aiden West. He returned home to Whitehorse from Calgary Sunday night with a signed Calgary Flames jersey, signed hockey cards of many Flames players, three very special hockey sticks and a new friendship.

West was chosen for the Travis Hamonic Community Program and along with his mother Sherrie had the weekend of his life in Calgary to meet the player and take in his first NHL game.

鈥淚t was super exciting and super fun,鈥� Sherrie said after the two returned from their trip. 鈥淲e flew out and got there and it was just awesome, we had so much fun.鈥�

It was the first time in Calgary and the first NHL game for both, and an experience they will never forget.

鈥淚 was kind of amazed because I read about things like this all the time and it鈥檚 usually my son is just too young or maybe too old or too far away,鈥� Sherrie said of the opportunity.

Through his program, Flames defenceman Hamonic invited communities to nominate Aboriginal youth for the opportunity and through that three were selected for the trips.

Hamonic is M茅tis and started the program to give back. To be eligible, the applicants had to be Aboriginal and between the ages of six and 17.

With three different trips, Sherrie said Hamonic chose someone from each northern territory with the first two in December and January featuring youth from Nunavut and N.W.T.

It was a quick turnaround for the West鈥檚 who found out Aiden was the Yukon selection for the February trip last Monday. And they flew to Calgary on Friday.

Sherrie said she found out suddenly, after completely forgetting about entering the contest, through a phone call from Calgary.

鈥淭ravis answered and as soon as I heard his name I was like oh my god that contest, I totally forgot about it,鈥� Sherrie recalled.

With Aiden having no idea that he was nominated for this opportunity, it was quite the whirlwind weekend for the young Whitehorse hockey player.

Although the Flames lost the game, Aiden and Sherrie wound up on the jumbotron with their sign 鈥淎ll the way from the Yukon鈥� and were on the national CBC coverage of the game.

Aiden met Hamonic after an early morning practice ahead of the game as well as after the game with his wife Stephanie.

West received a signed jersey from Hamonic as well as his two sticks from the game and a team stick.

鈥淚 was kind of nervous at first and he signed all my hockey cards,鈥� Aiden said on meeting Hamonic.

鈥淲e got quite a few members of the team in the hockey cards and Travis made sure every single one of Aiden鈥檚 hockey cards got signed by all the players,鈥� Sherrie added.

Sherrie was made aware of the contest opportunity through Big Brothers, Big Sisters Yukon of which Aiden is a little brother in the program.

She said she was emailed a pamphlet with the details by Elisabeth Lexow, the mentoring co-ordinator for Big Brothers, Big Sisters Yukon.

The organization helped Sherrie complete the application to nominate Aiden.

鈥淗e was the only participant within their program that played hockey,鈥� Sherrie said of the organization鈥檚 involvement in entering Aiden for the contest. 鈥淭hey thought that it was a great fit for Aiden.鈥�

Their first time in Calgary, the duo spent their time away from the rink exploring the city.

鈥淲e were busy the whole time we were there,鈥� Sherrie said. 鈥榃e wanted to make sure we did a lot of things that were once in a lifetime things to do.鈥�

What was one of the most exciting moments for Aiden?

鈥淲e saw quite a bit of fights,鈥� Sherrie said of the game. 鈥淎iden got really excited when he saw Travis get into a giant fight.鈥�

鈥淗e won also,鈥� Aiden added. 鈥淗is opponent didn鈥檛 lay a punch on him.鈥�