For Adam Catcher bringing his atom development team to Powell River to play is something of a dream come true.
His co-ed team, the Yellowknife Wolfpack, is comprised of about 18 players, all nine- and 10-year-olds coming to Powell River to play a season wrap-up tournament on Saturday, March 28, as part of a small coastal tour.
“We weren’t able to get into any tournaments,” said Catcher, assistant coach. “No one wanted to play us. We do really well.”
They will play two games against Powell River’s atom development team and two against Parksville’s peewee select team.
In Yellowknife the atom team plays against 12- and 13-year-olds and has a record of winning. Catcher said this season they won 40 games, lost only two and tied one.
“We’re a pretty good little hockey team,” he said.
Catcher explained that after the team could not find a tournament to join for a year-end wrap-up, he gave Rick Hopper, Powell River Minor Hockey Association coach coordinator and manager for the atom development team, a call. Hopper was eager to host the northern team.
“Rick has been great,” Catcher said. “He is taking care of all the details.”
Hopper said that once he knew the northern team could come he set up a small tour on the coast for them. “And they were able to make it work on their end,” Hopper added. “It worked out really well.”
Catcher, 34, grew up in Powell River and learned to play hockey at Powell River Recreation Complex. His parents still live here.
Catcher’s daughter, Taylor, one of two girls on the team, will be playing on the same ice that he did growing up and give her grandparents the chance to watch her play hockey.
He calls that opportunity to have his team come to Powell River, “a once in a lifetime opportunity” for his family.
“It’s one of those opportunities that I knew could happen—to have my daughter play in the same rink as I did,” said Catcher. “I can’t wait to watch my daughter play.”
Yellowknife and Powell River skate head-to-head 4:45 to 6 pm Friday, March 27, and 4:30 to 5:45 pm Saturday, March 28, at Hap Parker Arena, just before the Montreal Canadiens alumni play against Regal Oldtimers.
