REGINA FAMILY MEETS BOBBY ORR.
Nolan and Zachary Dobson never saw Bobby Orr play, but the Regina residents were well-prepared when they met the hockey legend on the weekend.
Before attending the Chevrolet Safe and Fun hockey program in Burlington, Ont., six-year-old Nolan and his eight-year-old brother got a refresher course on No. 4 from their dad.
As a long-time fan of Orr, Terry Dobson has often shared with his sons his thoughts about the former Boston Bruins star.
“For kids their age, they know quite a bit about him,” Terry says. “I’ve always talked about what made him great, which to me was not just his exceptional skills but also what a nice guy he is.”
Zachary confirms that he and his brother knew “lots” about Orr before the trip.
“He was the first defenceman to ever win the (NHL) scoring title (in the 1969-70 and ’74-75 seasons),” says Zachary, who played defence for Hockey Regina’s novice Colts last season. “That’s amazing.”
The family also has watched clips of Orr on YouTube, including some of his famous end-to-end rushes and highlight-reel goals.
“I think he’s the best defenceman ever,” says Zachary, who admits he may try some of Orr’s moves when the 2013-14 Hockey Regina season rolls around.
“He used to be the best hockey player on Earth,” adds Nolan, a member of Hockey Regina’s initiation Blues last season.
The Dobsons’ trip was the result of an e-mail from Chevrolet to Terry’s wife, Joël Beaudin-Dobson, that described the Safe and Fun hockey program and invited entries into a Canada-wide draw for spots at the Burlington camp.
In promotional material on the General Motors website, the program is described as an initiative “that is designed to help parents, minor league players and coaches develop a positive attitude towards healthy competition, co-operative teamwork and grace under pressure.”
The kids who participate in the program are between the ages of five and eight. The camps feature on-ice and classroom sessions with Orr as well as a conversation with Orr for players and parents.
“When I saw that e-mail, I thought, ‘Bobby Orr! I know my husband would be excited,’ so I entered the boys’ names,’’ Joël recalls. “But I had forgotten about it and when (a contest official) called, I wasn’t even paying attention.
“When he said, ‘If you can answer a skill-testing question, you’ll win,’ I thought, ‘What did he say?’ I was in shock: ‘We never win contests like this.’ ’’
Joël correctly answered the question and immediately called Terry with the good news: The Dobsons and a family from Prince Edward Island had won the two grand prizes and would join families from Ontario at Orr’s camp.
“It was a big deal for me — probably a bigger deal for me than anyone else,” Terry says with a laugh. “When my wife called, I thought she was pulling my leg. Bobby Orr is my favourite athlete. I’m a Bruins fan because of him. Growing up, he was The Guy.”
A couple of years ago, Joël helped Terry display his admiration for Orr by buying Bruins T-shirts — complete with Orr’s name and number on the back — for all four family members. They wore those T-shirts when they met Orr in Burlington.
While in Ontario, the Dobsons also bought Bruins jerseys as a tribute to Orr and the 65-year-old NHL legend autographed them. As well, Orr discovered that Terry and Joël were celebrating their 10th anniversary and mentioned it during one of his presentations.
“That’s what sticks with me from the whole weekend,” Terry says. “As a kid, you idolize somebody and think they’re something. Well, I’m in my late 40s and I’ve been disillusioned a few times. But (Orr’s) public persona is exactly the same as my image of him was.”
“It was very awesome,” Zachary notes when asked about meeting his dad’s idol. “He was really nice and kind and friendly.”
The Dobson brothers were among 90 youngsters who went on the ice with Orr for some fun drills that also emphasized hockey skills.
“He was good at goalie,” says Nolan, a kindergarten student at Lakeview School. “He had really good instructors, too.”
“I learned about passing, shooting, respect and responsibility,” adds Zachary, who’s in Grade 3 at Lakeview, “and about having fun.”