Two opposite hockey stories shared the stage.

On the one hand, Kevin Weekes told the crowd about his start in the game, his Barbados heritage. On the other hand, Kelly Hrudey spoke of his lousy abilities as a kid growing up in Edmonton, and how he played just about every other sport beside hockey until he was 12 years old.

The two former NHL goaltenders – turned hockey analysts on CBC – answered questions from colleague Scott Oake during the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada business luncheon at the Yukon Convention Centre yesterday.

Other speakers included Western Hockey League (WHL) commissioner Ron Robison and Jim Robson, radio and television broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks from 1970 to 1999.

Hrudey and Weekes ended the luncheon with stories of their own hockey origins.

Hrudey said his favourite sport growing up was squash.

But his parents eventually encouraged him to learn how to skate.

"Every single day in Edmonton in the winter of that year, as soon as my homework was done, I'd go to the rink, and I just played. I was no good, I was lousy, I just played,” Hrudey said, noting that he finally made a rep team when he was 16 because there were no other goalies.

Eventually, he made it onto the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL before getting drafted 38th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1980 NHL draft.

"If I can make it to the NHL, anybody can,” Hrudey said.

Weekes went 41st overall in the '93 draft by the Florida Panthers before playing for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

"Fortunately … there wasn't really any pressure,” Weekes said. "Neither of my parents can skate to this day. But my dad is the biggest advocate for hockey; he's in minor hockey rinks all the time.

"Even though I played in the National Hockey League and now I'm broadcasting, he's still in the minor hockey arenas talking to parents, talking to kids. From his perspective, it's his way of giving back to the game.”

He added that his father would be the one to get hot chocolate and coffee for people.

That's what it's all about, he said.

"It really is all about community. It doesn't matter what part of Canada you come from, or where your parents or grandparents come from, it's all about the greater community. We all love this game so very much, it means so much to us.”