Ben Gaudreau recalls back in 2018, when as a young goaltender he visited Chippewa Secondary School that summer to visit Colton Point who did a meet and greet at the school to share his Team Canada world junior gold medal with the public.
Gaudreau, who just returned back from the Tampa Bay Lightning prospects camp, never forgot about that. So when he was lucky enough to follow in Point's footsteps and win a gold medal with Team Canada in January, he knew he wanted to do the same thing. Share the gold medal with his home community.
Gaudreau, brought his medal, and Team Canada gear, along with his Sarnia Sting pads, as part of Goalie Demo equipment day at Pete Palangio arena on Monday morning hosted by Skaters North Source for Sports.
While goalies were trying on new gear and testing it on the ice, many of the youngsters attending stopped by for a photo with North Bay's most recent World Junior gold medallist.
"Growing up I looked up to guys like Ken Appleby and Colton Point," recalls Gaudreau, noting Appleby shared the Memorial Cup with the community when he won it in 2015.
"They did the same thing, they were out at the same type of events. They were out showing what they have accomplished and I think now being able to do that with the next generation, that is something I take pride in."
For Gaudreau, giving back is important.
"It is definitely special, it is cool to see that I am able to do that now and I have tried to do the full circle," he said.
"Also we try to help out for the younger kids, hopefully, one day when they grow up, they come back and show what they have done. Maybe they will then inspire the next group."
The Corbeil product and Sarnia Sting OHL netminder enjoys seeing the youngster's smiles when they greet him.
"Seeing the excitement on their face is definitely number one," said Gaudreau.
"Obviously it is an exciting time for the world of hockey with the way the game is going so being able to be a part of that and see the kid's excitement towards that is definitely something that is exciting for sure," he said.
See related: Golden Gaudreau
Paul McLean, owner of North Bay's Source for Sports, and a goaltender himself, recalls selling Ben his first chest protector close to 10 years ago. He felt it was a great idea to tie in a goalie day with Ben Gaudreau.
"It is great being able to do this again because the momentum we had built prior to COVID-19 with our goalie event 'goal-chella' that kind of derailed it. But it is so exciting to see all the different aged kids on the ice, celebrate all the local goalies," said McLean.
