Even the Mini Elks got to play
The Brookfield Elks played the East Hants Penguins in a recent Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League game at the Sportsplex in Brookfield. The junior B teams provided some fast, exciting action through the first 20 minutes of play, with the Penguins taking a 1-0 lead.
During the first intermission, more crowd-pleasing hockey as the Mini Elks, a South Colchester Minor Hockey Association U-9 development group team, played a 10-minute game. Players in black sweaters skated against players in red, and fans were treated to spills, near-misses, and several picture-play goals.
In full uniform, Elks players Dylan Keefe and Brady Whitman did a great job overseeing the action on the ice. As the fans rooted their approval, the young players seemed to enjoy the moment. After the game, Mini Elks players shared interesting hockey outlooks.
Nash Oikle, 8, Stewiacke (who scored three goals for the team in black jerseys): “This is my first year playing hockey, I enjoy playing this game a lot. It was exciting today for us to get to play in between periods of a junior B game.”
Emmett Caughey, 10, Brookfield: “I enjoyed it a lot out there today, we got to play hockey with the big Elks. I liked having them out on the ice, Dylan, and Brady, I’d like to do this again sometime.”
Hunter Hamilton, 7, Upper Stewiacke: “I had fun today, it was good being on the ice with the Elks players. I plan to keep playing hockey in the future.”
Graham Matheson, 9, Brookfield: “This is my first year playing hockey. I was the goaltender for the white team but, in a lot of games, I play forward. I find playing hockey really fun … it is exciting.”
Alder Hill, 7, Brookfield (young player has got it right): “I find hockey hard in some ways, but it is fun when our team scores. When the other team scores, it’s kind of disappointing and kind of not too disappointing. It is not all that serious a thing, you try to learn from what happens. And although you always try to make things difficult for the other team, it’s really about having fun. This is the way hockey is.”
Vintage Bower, 6, Brookfield: I was on the white team today, even though we didn’t win, we did pretty good. We had a lot of fun.”
Jersey Nickerson, 8, Princeport: “I played goal for the black team, it was pretty good, there were quite a few fans watching. This made it more exciting with so many people in the Sportsplex, to me, hockey is really a good experience.”
Blake Wambolt, 6, Brookfield: I really liked it today with a lot of people in the stands. Hockey is fun, I like when my teammates and I score goals.”
Ava Densmore, 7, Stewiacke: I found it exciting today, playing between periods of a junior B game. What I like about hockey is playing with my teammates, I also enjoy the exercise.”
Shane Caughey, 6, Brookfield: “I liked the whole idea, this was a good thing. I noticed it, playing before fans in the rink. It made it exciting. I hope we do this again.”
Marshall Peterson, 8, Brookfield: “I think hockey is so much fun, I want to keep practicing and get better. My favourite parts of hockey are when you take a pass or when you give the puck to one of your teammates.”
Bane Boudreau, 9, Truro Heights (scored one beautiful goal): “Our team did great today. When we play, I know which team is ahead in goals, I keep track as it’s part of the game. I felt pretty good today, the players all had fun. Other things I like about hockey, I enjoy the skating and I also like making friends.”
Koal Boudreau, 7, Truro Heights (not a hockey injury, but on the sidelines with a broken arm): “I can’t wait to get back to hockey. I’m hoping to be able to play later in the season. It’ll be a lot of fun to get back out there with my teammates.”
Mini Elks coach Adam Caughey did a great job in helping organize the recent game.
“I thought the game went very well,” Adam said. “I can’t thank the Elks’ GR Walters enough for making this happen. GR added all kinds of surprises to the experience. The coaches, Justin, Jon, Evan, and Ein Tapper, have all put a lot of work into helping our team grow, one day hopefully, these young players will be the junior B Elks.”
Although Brookfield came out on the losing end in their game against East Hants, Elks’ general manager GR Walters applauded the appearance of the Mini Elks.
“It was amazing having the little Elks with us today,” Walters said. “I think everyone would like to do this again. The Mini Elks brought an extra level of energy and excitement, this is something our organization is working towards bringing back.
“I’d like to see us build a stronger connection to minor hockey, I’d like to see more young fans coming to our games. It would be nice to be able to create a greater sense of pride in being an Elk.”