'The boys are pumped up': Veteran forward Riley Hearn enjoying Calgary Canucks' ride to the Centennial Cup
Riley Hearn’s journey with the Calgary Canucks hasn’t been an easy one, but he’s stuck it out and is now headed to play for the Centennial Cup following a successful season.
In his first season, the Canucks had just 36 points and were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.
In year two, the Canucks improved by 11 points but once again got bounced in the first round.
This year, however, was a complete turnaround for the third-year Canuck. Hearn and his teammates were crowned AJHL champs after beating the Whitecourt Wolverines in a four-game sweep.
“It felt awesome,” said the 21-year-old forward.
“From my first year to now we completely changed the culture around here. In terms of our on-ice performance, we’ve been winning games throughout the regular season and we’ve been more consistent and it’s paid off. We had an awesome playoffs and the boys are pumped up.”
Big-time leader
Culture doesn’t change overnight and for the Canucks it’s taken three seasons which just coincides with when Hearn joined the team.
When he came to the Canucks a few years back, Hearn wanted to be part of the solution. He worked closely with head coach Brad Moran to bring in a new attitude.
“I’d call him the heartbeat of the team,” said Moran.
“The guys rally around him and he’s always having fun and talking. For me, it’s the intangibles he brings on and off the ice, that’s his biggest assets.”
Hearn has had to fight for everything he’s gotten in the game of hockey. He’s only 5’3’ (160 centimetres), but forward Matt Paszkiewicz says Hearn is a player everyone looks up to.
“You know, he made me feel welcome when I first came here,” said 18-year-old Paszkiewicz.
“He’s a great team guy and he puts a lot of effort in even behind the scenes. He makes sure everyone gets the best treatment and he’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had.”
Quite the turnaround
Hearn knew right from the start of training camp that this Canucks team had turned a corner. But could he have envisioned that this team would be AJHL champs?
“Well two years ago I would’ve said no way,” he said.
“But at the beginning of this year, I had a feeling that the locker room that we had and the group of guys we had that anything could be possible and we were able to prove some people wrong and go the distance this year.”
Up next for Hearn and the Canucks is the Centennial Cup. That tournament gets underway on May 9 in Oakville, Ont.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ukraine marks its third Easter at war as it comes under fire from Russian drones and troops
As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia on Sunday launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraine's east, wounding more than a dozen people, and claimed its troops took control of a village they had been targeting.
Maple Leafs eliminated from NHL playoffs with Game 7 OT loss to Bruins
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.