The photo above and story below (written by former Peak sports reporter JP Brosseau) were published by the Peak in August of 2000.
While the Stanley Cup was in Powell River for a day last week—it goes to the hometown of each player on the winning team-former New Jersey Devil Brad Bombardir stood beside the cup at Powell River Recreation Complex for more than four hours. He happily had his picture taken and shook hands with more than 2,000 locals. The crowd included infants and grandparents, and all ages in between. All were arrived eager to have their photos taken with the coveted cup, which is emblematic of the best in the National Hockey League (NHL).
The event was a fundraiser for the Len Evans scholarship fund and Powell River Cystic Fibrosis and raised more than $1,500. Evans was a promising hockey player who died in a car accident while still a junior.
Before the trip to the complex, Bombardir and his buddies played the seventh game of a Stanley Cup final on his street, as they had done years ago. Every boy does this hundreds of times in his childhood and in his dreams. This time, when the boys—now all grown up—played, it really was for the Stanley Cup. And there it was, as it had been many times in their dreams, waiting to be taken by the champs. A large crowd was on hand for the final and they cheered as heartily as the crowd did when the Devils took the cup a few months back.
Bombardir began skating early. He believes this helped him.
"I guess I was about three years old when I started taking figure skating lessons," he said. "I've played defence for every team that I’ve been on. I think it's because I could skate backwards very well."
He played pick-up hockey "to learn stick handling" before joining minor hockey.
"My first team was Airport Lumber. I still remember the burgundy jerseys and my really blond hair."
At 15, he was protected by the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League, but decided to play for the Powell River Paper Kings until he was 18. He was approached by a scout and recruited for the University of North Dakota."
The following year he went to a Cougars camp and was offered a contract.
"My dad thought I should play another year at home in Powell River to keep my college eligibility open. That was the best decision my parents could have made for me."
Attending the University of North Dakota in education, Bombardir switched to economic development and received his bachelor of science degree four years later. At the end of his freshmen year, he met his future wife, Heather, then a nursing student.
"We've been together for close to 10 years now and married for three. [Son] Jaxon came into the picture a year and a half ago."
After graduation, Bombardir signed a contract with the New Jersey Devils. He played for the Albany River Rats out of New York State, getting primed for the big leagues. He then played three years with the farm team and then three more with the Devils.
During his third year with the farm team, he and another player slid into the boards, snapping Bombardir's ankle.
"It was a freak accident," he said.
Unable to play the game, Bombardir was always around the team, going on the road and watching the home games.
"I wanted to remain with the team to keep my morale up. I learned that my tolerance level wasn't as high as I thought it was. I was frustrated, but it was good personally to get through it."
His son, Jaxon, drives him to continue to succeed.
"A child motivates you to get up each morning and give a little more of yourself to get through the practice and the game. It's a fulfilling feeling more than anything else, a great experience. Were planning on having more [children]. Growing up with good families, with good memories, brings a lot of positives into your life so that's what we want."
Bombardir's role models are his mom and dad, who guided him with understanding and love, and showed him how to work hard.
"My dad has volunteered so much time and energy in this community. My mom is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. She always has a smile on her face."
As far as sports heroes, Bombardir respects Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan "for all they did for their sport. Larry Robinson is someone I personally look up to. All the great players are great people, too. I look at them and try and learn from them. It's important to be a good person. That's what lasts."
As for his NHL dream team. Bombardir names "the Montreal Canadiens definitely. There is so much pride and history there, and all the cups they've won."
"Growing up, it would have been the Vancouver Canucks because that's my home team. Gary Lupul played for them and he's from Powell River*
This coming season (2000/2001), Bombardir is playing for the new Minnesota Wild.
"T'll be getting more ice time, plus Heather is from Minnesota and we just bought a house there even before I got traded. It all just came together."
When his career in hockey comes to an end, he hopes to break into broadcasting. He was able to try it out when his ankle was broken and thoroughly enjoyed it.
"It's amazing, how opportunities open up when you least expect it. I did radio play-by-plays then, and now I'm doing more interviews in front of the camera and feel very comfortable there."
Bombardir doesn't mind being a local celebrity because "I'm just a guy who enjoys playing hockey and was lucky enough to get to the NHL. When I'm out talking to people in public, I have no problem if kids look up to me because I was once there. If I have the opportunity to make a positive influence on kids, that's great.. I think it's the best thing that can possibly happen."
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