IT'S FAMILY FIRST FOR HURRICANES' TOP DRAFT PICK
Mom gets new wheels to replace old van after Winnipeg teen signs first pro contract
Most of us have no idea what it's like to sign an NHL contract, so I'll let Seth Jarvis describe the feeling.
“It's a big relief,” the Winnipeg native said Monday, after inking his entry level deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
“After you get drafted, that's the first thing that comes to your mind. You want to sign. You want to officially be part of an organization. The fact it's happened is awesome. I'm super pumped to be part of the Hurricanes, and hopefully, have a long career here and just enjoy my time here.”
Jarvis was on the phone from Raleigh, N.C., where the Hurricanes had drafted him 13th overall back in October.
The distance did nothing to dull his sense of excitement.
Jarvis' three-year deal calls for an average salary of US$832,500 if he makes the NHL team. His signing bonus is US$92,500, also paid each year.
Sure, it's about more than the money. But darn it, he's still just 18.
“This is a lot more money than
I've ever had to deal with,” he said.
“I've always only had about $200 in my bank account. So just trying to be responsible with it. Don't go and blow it on something stupid. I want to get my mom a car, just to show her appreciation. That's the first thing on my list.
“She's been thinking I'm going to get myself a car, so I'm going to give her a little bit of a surprise.”
Back home, two proud parents were touched, but not surprised.
“If you saw what I drive, you wouldn't even ask,” mom Tracey said with a laugh. “It's not pretty over here. He's a really generous kid.”
It wouldn't be the first time Jarvis has gone out of his way to make his mom happy.
The Grade 5-6 teacher recalls a Christmas when her son was just four or five. He looked under the tree and saw someone in the family appeared to be left out.
“I guess there wasn't a present for me under there yet,” Tracey said. “So he took a pair of my shoes and wrapped them up so that I'd have something to open.”
Fast forward to today and Jarvis sees his mom driving a 13-year-old Chevy van.
“I was raised to always take care of my mom first,” he said. “Plus, the car she drives right now has got to be a safety hazard.”
Maybe it was the flat tire they got at 5:45 a.m. on Boxing Day, when they tried to drive Jarvis to the airport for his flight to North Carolina.
They backed up, returned home, unloaded all his stuff and packed it into his dad's car — a '97 Mercury Sable.
I guess we know what will be next on Jarvis' spending list.
It's the parents, of course, who are usually most responsible for kids who pursue an expensive and time-devouring sport like hockey, driving them all over Hell's half acre for practices and games.
Jarvis played his minor hockey with the Tuxedo Lightning, Assiniboine Park Rangers, the Winnipeg Monarchs and finally the Rink Hockey Academy.
Mind you, his mom and dad are quick to share the credit with all the coaches and others who had a hand in their son's ride to the NHL.
“He's been so fortunate to have lots of people surrounding and supporting him along the way,” dad Ray said. “It just makes us so proud that he's fulfilling the dream of his since he started hockey.”
There have been bumps along the road, most recently when Jarvis was cut from Team Canada just before the world junior championship.
He was coming off a sparkling 42-goal season with the WHL'S Portland Winterhawks, and had never been cut from a team in his life. At times like that, support is critical.
“I stepped out of the classroom to take his call,” Tracey said.
“He was devastated that he was being let go. And as a parent, of course you want to fix everything, but it's just not fixable. We told him we were as proud of him at that moment as we would have been if he was phoning to tell us he made the team.”