One young Campbell River hockey player 害羞草研究所� and fan 害羞草研究所� recently had a very, very good day down in Anaheim.
Mackinley Whalen, 11, picked up on Ryan Kesler when he was a Vancouver Canuck. She wasn害羞草研究所檛 really a fan of the team 害羞草研究所� her parents are both Montreal Canadiens fans, after all 害羞草研究所� but she certainly did like 害羞草研究所渢hat number 17 guy,害羞草研究所� she says, and when he was traded to Anaheim, her fandom followed.
害羞草研究所淚f he was traded to Toronto, I害羞草研究所檇 probably be a Leafs fan,害羞草研究所� she says.
害羞草研究所淣o you wouldn害羞草研究所檛,害羞草研究所� interrupts her mom April, half-jokingly.
So when Kesler went down with injury earlier this season, she decided to write him a letter wishing him a speedy recovery and letting him know they were going to be down that way with tickets to a pair of games.
害羞草研究所淎t first I was sad that you will not be playing,害羞草研究所� the letter reads, 害羞草研究所渂ut I just want you to get better soon. If you are around the arena for those games and feel like some popcorn I害羞草研究所檓 willing to share mine with you.害羞草研究所�
The letter included her seat number for each game.
Apparently, April had added her cell number to the letter before it was sent, because she got a text message from Kesler letting them know he planned on joining them during the Ducks/Predators game Nov. 3. She didn害羞草研究所檛 tell Mackinley, though, because she thought it would be better as a surprise.
害羞草研究所淚t was so awesome,害羞草研究所� Mackinley says. 害羞草研究所淗e came down and I thought, 害羞草研究所榠s this a fake person trying to tease me or a joke or something?害羞草研究所� but then he sat with me and had popcorn害羞草研究所nd watched almost the full period with me.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淗e was so down to Earth and engaging,害羞草研究所� April says. 害羞草研究所淗e was genuinely interested in everything she had to say. Even my husband said, 害羞草研究所業 wanted to hate the guy, but I couldn害羞草研究所檛. He was so nice.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
The Whalen害羞草研究所檚 go down to the U.S. fairly frequently to watch hockey, because it害羞草研究所檚 actually significantly less expensive than going over for a game in Vancouver.
害羞草研究所淲e can fly down to Anaheim or Florida for a game and including the flights and hotels it害羞草研究所檚 still cheaper than going to a Canucks home game,害羞草研究所� April says. 害羞草研究所淵ou can get into a game down there for like $16.害羞草研究所�
And while they害羞草研究所檙e down there watching hockey, they can see some other things, as well.
害羞草研究所淢y mom made me go to Disneyland,害羞草研究所� Mackinley says. 害羞草研究所淏ut I just wanted to watch hockey.害羞草研究所�
Mckinley is quite the athlete herself. She plays for two local hockey teams 害羞草研究所� one mixed and one girls害羞草研究所� team 害羞草研究所� as well as being as burgeoning golfer. She is currently enrolled in a golf academy in Parksville with hopes to maybe one day become a professional golfer.
害羞草研究所淏ut I害羞草研究所檇 like to play hockey professionally, too,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚 like golf, but I love hockey. It害羞草研究所檚 my passion.害羞草研究所�
