The Selkirk Saints took a few minutes before their game Saturday night to acknowledge the Trail Roadrunners floor hockey team for their second place finish in a recent tournament. The Saints called the team out to the ice and held a ceremonial puck drop.
The Roadrunners asked three Castlegar athletes, Haley Prince, Chris Paulson and Justin Trower, to join the team for the Special Olympics BC Floor Hockey Tournament held in Abbotsford in January. The team was victorious over Abbotsford 6-4, lost a heart-breaker to Delta 5-4, and demolished Mission 8-3 to earn second place in the “C” Division.
The Castlegar athletes practice each Wednesday throughout the fall and winter in the Twin Rivers Elementary school gymnasium working on drills and scrimmages. The Saints have developed a special relationship with the players and help to mentor them. “Those boys [the Selkirk Saints] are so community minded these days, I am just so impressed with them. What a true role model they are for kids coming up in this day and age,” said Special Olympics volunteer Kris Stanbra.
For 18 year-old Castlegar player Chris Paulson, it was his first floor hockey trip. “It was a good experience for someone who has never gone before,” he said after the trip. “It was a lot of fun.” Paulson really enjoyed the experience and found the crowds of spectators exciting. He hopes to be asked to play again next year.