A group of 19 Prince Rupert kids with the Seawolves U11 developmental team recently returned from a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Vancouver.
Sponsored by DP World, the players got a behind-the-scenes look at the Vancouver Canucks and watched the March 15 game against the Chicago Blackhawks from the luxury of the presidential suite at Rogers Arena.
They were accompanied on this adventure by former Canuck and NHL All-Star Darcy Rota. Now a special ambassador for the Canucks, Rota was a key member of the 1982 Canucks run for the Stanley Cup.
DP World even provided the team with full tracksuits replete with the Seawolves logo on one arm and the Canucks logo on the other.
But for the kids, despite the "merch," being flown down to Vancouver, having the red carpet rolled out for them and being treated like royalty, it was all about the hockey.
"We got to watch the practice and it was really cool because we watched how hard they worked," said left-winger Walker Davis, whose favourite player is Elias Pettersson.
Walker acknowledged the Canucks might work a little harder than the Seawolves do, but said it inspired him to do his best.
Centre Benny Palmer agreed. He said his favourite part of seeing the Canucks and Blackhawks was the hard-hitting aspect of the professional game.
"I just love it," he said. "And I like to see lots of people play and because I like to body-check people."
Palmer has been skating since he was four-years-old and loves nothing better than being at the rink.
Head coach Jared Davis (Walker's dad) confirmed how great an experience it was for the kids and for the other people who joined them. DP World also paid for each of the Seawolves to have one chaperone and other family members or friends were also welcomed on board if they paid their own way.
"It was super special," Jared said. "Thank you to DP World and the Canucks and all the volunteers that made this happen. It's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the kids."
DP World, the global company that runs Prince Rupert's Fairview Container Terminal became Canucks Sports and Entertainment's (CSE) logistics partner in January, meaning they are responsible for ensuring all the travel needs of the Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford Canucks, and Vancouver Warriors are met.
“Both CSE and DP World share a strong commitment to supporting local communities, and we look forward to working together to create lasting positive impacts across the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, and British Columbia,” they said in a press release.
The Seawolves-Canucks VIP experience was part of that commitment, according to DP World Prince Rupert general manager Evan DesChamp.
For DesChamp, who also accompanied the Seawolves on the trip, it was rewarding both professionally and personally, he said.
"It's definitely rewarding for me within DP World to bring these types of opportunities for the community and expand into our community ourselves, to grow the sport of hockey," he said.
"But then just being locally from Prince Rupert, it's nice to give back to the community and see that on the faces of people in this community when I was at the game."
As a bonus, the Canucks won the game 6-2.
