CBC's popular show, Dragon's Den, brought their crew to Prince George over the weekend to film local inventor Jean Jacques Giguere's new game called Vitockey, a blend of the words "vite" (French for fast) and hockey.
Giguere was featured last season on the show, which gives Canadian inventors a chance to pitch their product to a team of no-nonsense judges - or dragons - in hopes of receiving investment in their invention.
Dragon's Den is about making money for both the contestants and the panel of judges.
And since Giguere didn't impress the judges enough for them to open their cheque books, he was sent packing.
But for the sixth season of the show, producers are following up with inventors who had an impact, whether their businesses are still running or not.
"This season we are doing a special show entirely made up of updates. We are touring the country to see what [some contestants] have been up too since Dragon's Den," said Richard Maerov, associate producer for CBC.
Thus their visit to Prince George. Despite not getting any of the dragons' money, Giguere's adaptation of hockey and lacrosse earned him some profile across the country.
"He was just such a popular pitcher. We got so much reaction from our audience from [him]," said Maerov.
Since the show, Giguere has paid for a patent on Vitockey and hopes it will eventually gain mainstream traction.
That may just happen now that audiences can get a glimpse of a real game in progress, but first, a rink had to be specially retro-fitted to accommodate the sport.
When he appeared on the show, Giguere had some mock-ups but nothing to the extent of having an ice rink re-done.
So CBC is footing the bill for needed changes to ice and for local amateur hockey players to test out the sport.
To properly present the sport, half of the ice at Elksentre Arena was transformed overnight from traditional hockey markers, to vibrant turquoise circles and a thick centre line.
"The rink might look simple, but it took years to figure out," said Giguere of his design.
Around the rink are elipse-shaped boards that stop the hockey pucks from getting caught in corners and increase the chances for players to pass to each other.
And so far, hockey players are giving the game the thumbs up.
"It seems easy to pick up on. It's fun," said Kirk Hards. "It resembles roller hockey most. With the nets farther forward, a lot of plays go on back there, and as soon as you shoot the puck you have to be ready, it doesn't stop anywhere."
Goalie Clayton Hapke agrees.
"With so much space behind the net it is harder to keep track of the play," he said. "You have to change positions and slide around a lot more, and keep your eye on the puck. They are doing fancier stuff with the puck, and there is a lot more action. The puck is constantly moving, and the transitions are lightning fast."
Dragon's Den six season begins Sept. 14, and the Vitockey update will air on February 1st.
To learn more about Vitockey, visit www.vitockey.com, and to learn more about Dragon's Den visit www.cbc.ca/dragonsden.
