‘HIS DREAM CAME TRUE’

As someone who has served with the Greater Toronto Hockey League’s Toronto Young Nationals for more than three decades, Garry Punchard is well aware of the big names to have come through the program over the years. Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Jeff Skinner, Eric Lindros, Rick Middleton, Tyler Seguin. The list goes on.

Yet few players bring a smile to Punchard’s face like Sean Wu, the loyal goaltender who has spent the last eight years manning the Young Nats’ crease.

“After last year, playing in the Telus Cup ... he sort of committed right there that he would be back next year,” said Punchard, the Nats’ GM. “I’m sure there were a lot of teams that were after him, but ... I think the loyalty is a big thing for him.”

Wu, who came from Beijing to Toronto almost a decade ago to chase his hockey dreams, recently won the under-20 IIHF Division 3 world junior championship representing Team China alongside his childhood friend and one-time Young Nats forward Eddie Yan.

“His passion was always playing for the national Chinese team,” Punchard said. “He met his passion. His goal was achieved. That was always his dream and his dream came true.”

Punchard’s son Brett, who has coached Wu for the last two seasons, said Wu is a “very determined” and “very mature kid” who is deserving of everything that has come his way.

“It is a great story. This guy’s from China, coming to live the dream over here,” Brett said. “The last two years have been fantastic. He played in a national championship, but he’s also played in a world championship in a 12-month span. That’s any kid’s dream.”