Their hopes of playing in the NHL on Hockey Night in Canada are still a dozen or so years away from the realm of possibility but the reality is the Prince George Atomic Bruins are about to become TV stars.
On Feb. 21, during CBC's TV broadcasts of the Winnipeg-Toronto or Anaheim-Edmonton games, the Bruins will be featured in between periods to help promote the following week's games on Hockey Night in Canada.
To make that happen, a Rogers camera crew came to Prince George Thursday afternoon and dropped by the Bruins' practice at Kin 3 to shoot some taped footage at ice level as part of the Scotiabank Kids Hockey program.
For the group of 17 atom-aged (under-11) players who suit up for the Bruins in the Prince George Minor Hockey Association atom Tier 2 division, the chance to show off their team and their hometown for a national TV audience was a rare treat indeed.
"I think that's a real heads-up for us," said Bruins 10-year-old goalie Xavier Encinas. "It feels like we're pros."
The Bruins all lent their voices to an introductory address -
"We're the Atomic Bruins from Prince George, British Columbia," as the camera panned by the players' bench. Then a handful of Bruins were picked to say a few scripted words for the camera - "Coming up next week on Hockey Night in Canada, it's the forever rivals, Maple Leafs and Canadiens in the early game."
That turned out to be a bit of tongue-twister, but after a few takes they got it nailed down.
Bruins captain Jacob Goodlet, 10, can't wait to see his team on TV and he'll be sure to let all his relatives know to watch for them that day.
"It's pretty cool because we're the worst team in the league in the standings and we might actually get a little better (as a result of the experience)," said Goodlet.
"Who knows what'll happen? We still have a couple months left."
The Atomic Bruins will get their 15 minutes of fame during the second weekend of the Canada Winter Games, when the eyes of the country will already be fixed on Prince George.
"That's pretty cool because this is our city and we're proud of it," said Goodlet. "It will get people to come here."
"Maybe people might notice our city more because of the Canada Games," added Encinas.
Prince George is also among 25 cities selected for the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour,
March 21-22. Host Ron MacLean will broadcast live from the Rogers mobile studio.
CN Centre will be the focal point for interactive hockey displays, NHL alumni players, live performances from Celtic Thunder and Five Finger Death Punch, and prize giveaways to help lure in the crowd.
The Hometown Hockey Tour events lead in to the Sportsnet broadcast of the Vancouver
Canucks at Arizona Coyotes
game on Sunday, March 22 at 4:30 p.m. PST.
