The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Welsh’s wave makes a big impression
Matthew Welsh completed his junior career by setting a mark that can't be broken.
At the end of each of the 20-year-old Haligonian's five seasons with the Charlottetown Islanders, he was named the team's recipient of the fan favourite award.
It comes as no surprise to nine-year-old Jack Rodgerson.
“I think he's an inspiration to everybody and whenever he sees one of the fans, he tries to make an effort to go and talk to them,” the York youngster said of the hardworking Welsh, who he noted has been recognized for his academic excellence. “He's really nice and he donates blood to people who need it and he does the splits even though it might hurt a little bit.”
Welsh has been Jack's favourite player since he arrived on the Island in 2015. The two have shared a special connection since the early days of Welsh's career in Charlottetown.
At the start of every second period, Welsh would look up to Section 14 at the Eastlink Centre and wave to Jack.
“He waved at me and I waved back and … it kept going,” said Jack, who goes to the games with his 13-yearold sister, Jorja, and their parents, Shawn and Amanda.
During the first intermission, Shawn will give him a certain amount of time before he has to return to his seat to be ready for Welsh's wave.
“I never missed it once,” Jack said proudly.
Jack has numerous photos of himself with his favourite player and even got a signed broken stick from Welsh following a practice.
“He wrote ‘To my biggest fan from Matt Welsh,' ” Jack said. “I was pretty happy when I got it. I didn't expect to take home a stick when I was just there to watch him play.”
The Sherwood Falcons forward has a signed Welsh jersey and his uncle, Brent Macdonald, airbrushed a mask to replicate his idol's. Jack wore the jersey, mask and street hockey goalie pads, which Macdonald customized to look like Welsh's, and went trick-or-treating as the Islanders' goalie during Halloween in October.
“One of the Islanders saw it and it went viral on Twitter,”
Jack said.
Welsh said he's going to miss Jack and all the fans he was fortunate to meet during his career in Charlottetown.
"When I started playing in Charlottetown, I never really understood what it meant to be a role model to so many young kids. I was just 16 myself,” he said.
Welsh would be noticed when he was in public, and young hockey players and kids would come up to talk to him.
“It kind of inspired me to be as good of a role model as I could be for all these kids that look up to Islanders' players. Whenever I got the chance to interact with a kid, whether it was Jack or any other young fan, I took advantage of it," he said. "I take pride in the fact that those kids look up to myself as a hockey player and a person. I just try to set the best example I can for them.”
Welsh won five of the 11 player awards this season and shared another with Nikita Alexandrov.
Welsh's name is written all over the franchise's record book and he set the new standard for minutes played by a goalie in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League during one of his final games at the Eastlink Centre.
He has committed to playing for the Saint Mary's Huskies in his hometown next season.
“It will be different,” Jack said. “I'm only nine and I've watched him for five years. I will really miss not getting the wave from him every game. Everyone in our section knew he would do it. …
“I can't wait until I watch him play for Saint Mary's against the UPEI Panthers.”