Most young hockey players dream of one day being on the CBC's famous Hockey Night in Canada.
The members of the Battlefords Atom Bisons have that chance sooner than most would expect. The Bisons were chosen to be the Scotiabank Hockey Tonight Kids. This is a program supporting more than 3,700 minor hockey teams across Canada. The program has operated for four seasons, as hockey teams introduce a National Hockey League game prior to puck drop and Hockey Night in Canada's host Ron.
The Bisons will be featured during the March 23 broadcast from 4:30 to 5 p.m.
"Scotiabank has always been proud to support minor hockey in Canada and we hope this program gives kids a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feel the excitement of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada and what it's like to be part of the big leagues," said branch manager Travis Clarke.
The Bisons were one of two Battlefords Minor Hockey Association teams in the Battlefords to receive a grant for $500, as each branch across the country has $1,000 to donate through the Scotiabank's Community Hockey Program.
CBC taped footage of the Bisons in the Battlefords North Stars dressing room, the hallway and on the ice, as the kids showed plenty of excitement and energy during the taping last week. That could also be a result of getting to skip out of school to do the taping, but the fact that they will be on Hockey Night in Canada the same day as superstars like Nazem Kadri, Carey Price and Jordan Eberle will be cherished hockey memories.
The Bisons' roster includes Kezi Albert, Kraten Beaudoin, Rocsyn Bird, Landon Frohlich, Andrew Gentes, Brandon Holhoyi, William Lehman, David Lightfoot, Caleb McLean, TJ Omelchenko, Jaden Sack and Jesse Smith. The coaches are Rocky Omelchenko and Brent Holhoyi with Braeden Johnson of the Battlefords North Stars serving as a guest coach throughout the season.
