Local youth hockey player experiences all-star weekend

It was a highlight filled three days for Felix Russell, who attended this year's NHL All-Star festivities in Atlanta as the Yukon winner of the annual McDonalds In the Line Up program.

It was a highlight filled three days for Felix Russell, who attended this year’s NHL All-Star festivities in Atlanta as the Yukon winner of the annual McDonalds In the Line Up program.

The 11-year-old Whitehorse resident took in both the Dodge/NHL Super Skills and the NHL All-Star Game as well as met numerous players throughout the course of trip.

On Saturday, Russell along with the rest of his Yukon Office Supplies teammates were invited to McDonald’s for a welcome back dinner celebration.

“It (the NHL All-Star Weekend) was really incredible,“ Russell said. “It was all great.“

Russell was selected, along with 11 other young hockey players from across Canada, to participate in this year’s In the Line Up program.

He was one of the two selections for the territories and the 10 others include one representative from each province.

Russell was entered into the contest by his mother, Katrina, who accompanied him on the trip to Atlanta to take in the event.

Katrina was reminded about the contest while watching one of Felix’s hockey practices in November. After the practice she found the website and entered him a few days later. As per contest rules, a new entry could be submitted every day from Nov. 5 to Dec. 9. All entries had to be be seven to 12 years old and be playing minor league hockey.

After finding the website, Katrina entered her son’s name on a regular basis for the rest of November and into December. Just before Christmas, Felix received a message on the family’s answering machine from Calgary Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf informing him that he was the winner and would be going to Atlanta.

Felix and Katrina then flew out on Jan. 24 to attend the event, which was held from Jan. 26-27.

Besides the tickets for the skills competition and All-Star game, the Russells were given round-trip airfare to Atlanta, three nights hotel and ground transfers, official player escort uniforms and a meet and greet with participating players at the event. Winners of the In the Line UP program also were present on the ice during the player introductions and national anthems.

Felix also demonstrated his hockey skills while playing in a shinny game with Western Conference All-Star Phaneuf and Eastern Conference All-Star, as well as eventual All-Star MVP, Eric Staal, which was held at the Atlanta Thrashers practice facility on Saturday. Russell scored the first goal of the game on a rebound, which he put into the top corner of the net, past the In the Line UP goaltender for the Eastern team. His team went on to win the game by a score of 2-1.

Russell, who plays both as both a forward and goalie for the Office Supplies PeeWee team, was looking forward to the most was meeting Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo at the event. However, just a couple of weeks before leaving for Atlanta he found out, while watching a Canucks game, that Luongo wouldn’t be attending because of personal reasons.

Russell said he was disappointed and that had Luongo gone he would have not only met him, but would have been standing with him during the game’s opening ceremonies.

“I would have been beside Luongo, but I ended up beside Chris Osgood,“ he said. “If Luongo had come I would have been beside him.“

Russell said if Luongo had attended, the Western Conference wouldn’t have fallen behind by four goals by the conclusion of the first period.

Despite eventually losing the game 8-7, Katrina said it was cool watching the West battle back from the early deficit.

“It was such an exciting game,“ she said. “It was just amazing the level of talent and skill and speed, it was just an excellent showcase. The All-Star Game, some people criticise it, but really it brings the best of the best together and you have all the best of the best on that ice at the same time and you have people who normally don’t play on the same team together, playing together. It adds a new dimension to the game and it was really fun.“

This was the first time the Russells took in an NHL game in the lower bowl of an arena.

Both Felix and Katrina agreed that it was the most entertaining hockey game they had ever been too.

Felix said his favourite souvenir from the whole experience was his white McDonalds T-shirtt, which he had autographed by the whole Western Conference team.

In addition to having an autograph from all of the Western players, he also received signatures from hockey legends Gordy Howe, Bobby Hull and Phil Esposito.

Katrina said her favourite part of the whole experience was when she saw Felix skate out onto the ice during the game’s opening ceremonies.

“For me it was a thrill to see my son on the ice amongst some of the best hockey players in the world,“ she said. “Just watching him skate out onto the ice during the game, all eyes were on the guys on the ice and he was one of them. I have got a picture of Felix on the ice with all the NHL players and to me that is probably the most important thing that I got out of it.“

Saturday’s Dodge/NHL Super Skills didn’t disappoint either and both Felix and Katrina were particular impressed by Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin, who didn’t score, but still put on quite the show for the crowd.

Katrina wanted to thank McDonalds and all the people who gave them the opportunity to take part in the event.

“I am absolutely so glad that we were given this opportunity to go and I am excited for the person who goes next year,“ she said. “I hope they have as much fun as we did. All I can say is if your child plays hockey, you have to remember to sign your child up into the competition next year because if you don’t enter you can’t win.