'I'm way too excited': Lethbridge buddies earn roster spots on top provincial hockey team
To some people, travelling across North America for hockey at just 10 or 11-years-old may seem like a stretch.
But for Oliver 'Ollie' Skog and his good friend Briggs Fabro, the dream of playing for Team Brick Alberta and competing against the continent's best young hockey players has been top of mind for the past few years.
"I was really excited that I made the team. When I heard the news, I was actually driving home from another skate and I'm just way too excited," said Ollie, an 11-year-old goalie from Lethbridge.
It's not all that common for kids from the relatively small city of Lethbridge to make the team, let alone two good buddies in the same year.
"On a scale of one to 10, I'm probably at a 10 for how excited I am. I can't wait to see all my buddies," said Briggs, a ten year old centre who's also from Lethbridge.
The boys may be young, but they're constantly working on their game and honing their skills.
In fact, Briggs even lives in the basement where his net, stick handling equipment and a mountain of pucks is set up for whenever he feels like peppering the net and improving his abilities.
Briggs and Ollie
"I shoot every day. 100 pucks every day. I do 70 shots and then 30 backhands and then I stickhandle when I'm done and I get better every time I do it," he said.
For Ollie, he's lucky to have a dad who grew up in the sport and can show him the ropes to help him take his game to the next level.
"My dad's like my goalie coach because he was a goalie growing up and he still is," he said.
"He's helped me all the way with a lot of stuff like learning new techniques, styles and how to get there faster."
18 MAKE IT
150 kids were invited to tryout for Team Brick Alberta, but just 18 made the cut.
The competition to earn a roster spot is fierce, but the two Lethbridge boys put in the hard work and impressed at camp.
"For the boys to be representing the south is pretty big for them and pretty neat for all of Lethbridge and their minor hockey products," said Ollie's dad Brad Skog.
"It's pretty cool for the boys to do it together as well."
Briggs, Lethbridge, July 2021
The team's first taste of real competition will come at a tournament at the West Edmonton Mall starting August 15.
In a normal year, teams would be flocking to that tournament from across North America, but with the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 during the planning stages, only Canadian teams are set to take the ice for the most high octane competition of the year.
NHL stars like Steven Stamkos, Johnny Gaudreau, Brayden Point and many others once played in the same league.
They may be young, but being able to compete at the top level makes for some very proud parents.
"We're just absolutely pumped and thrilled for both of them. A lot of hard work that they both put in to achieve this," said Briggs' dad Scott Fabro.
"One thing I always tell my family is work ethic and attitude are the two things that you can control and the rest is history."
For Briggs, his favourite player in the NHL is Nathan MacKinnon and he tries to model his game after his speed, puck control, shooting ability and athleticism.
Ollie on the other hand, being a goalie, said his favourite player is Braden Holtby for his physical and mental toughness, athletic ability and technically sound performance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.