Osoyoos is well represented by classy hockey player
Simply put, Chuck Kobasew gets it.
We watched quite closely last week the actions of this young professional hockey player as he helped coach at the Osoyoos Storm's summer hockey school.
And what a pleasure it was.
Obviously, Chuck was the guy all of the kids wanted to see, to hang out with, to get close to. But it wasn't just the kids. Off the ice, parents also gently pushed their way forward, trying to get close to someone who plays hockey in the NHL.
It is a natural reaction. We are all drawn to famous people, and in Canada, there are few more famous than NHL hockey players. Chuck Kobasew is essentially living the dream – the Canadian dream. Few of us have not at one-time or another (or a lot of times) during our minor hockey careers comtemplated a future in the NHL. But very, very few ever make it.
Combine that with the high salaries, and it is hard not to see why people are drawn to their NHL heroes. Chuck Kobasew is Osoyoos' entry in that world. He is our connection to a league many have watched and loved for years, and yes, that makes him a local celebrity.
And while all that sounds great, we can't help but wonder what that must be like when everyone wants to get close to you, when everyone's eyes are always on you.
We think that would be much, much harder than it seems, and that was why watching Chuck Kobasew last week was all that much more impressive.
He was fantastic with the kids and the parents. He was approachable, friendly, and sincere. There was no attitude in what he was doing, no sense that this was just part of the job. He said he enjoyed coming to these summer hockey camps and after watching him we believe him.
Osoyoos is lucky to be so well represented by such a classy young man.
