The capacity of Rogers Arena in Vancouver is 18,910, and thousands more watch Vancouver Canucks games on TV.
All of those eyeballs will see the Sardis secondary school Drumline in action during the 2021-22 National Hockey League season. Members of the drumline will be travelling into Vancouver for each of the 41 Canucks home games, starting with a Tuesday night (Oct. 26) game against the Minnesota Wild.
The Chilliwack youths will be performing on the ice and on the concourse.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an awesome press opportunity for us,B次元官网网址� said Grade 12 student Thomas Mordaunt, one of the B次元官网网址榲eteransB次元官网网址� on the young team. B次元官网网址淭he drumline played at the 2012 (Winter) Olympics (in Vancouver), and played some Canucks games around 10 years ago too, so it feels like weB次元官网网址檙e going to be bringing the drumline back up to that level after being in a lull for a few years.B次元官网网址�
Nervous members of the team gathered Friday after school for a rehearsal, and journeyed to Abbotsford that night for an appearance at the Abbotsford Canucks home opener. With so many new members, every moment of prep counts before hitting the big stage.
B次元官网网址淎bout half our the group is returning from last year,B次元官网网址� Mordaunt said. B次元官网网址淭he entire bass drum line is new. About half the cymbals, almost all the tenors and two or three snares are all new.
B次元官网网址淏ut what IB次元官网网址檝e always told everyone is, B次元官网网址楴obody cares how good you play. All that they care about is how well you entertain. If you have lots of energy and look like youB次元官网网址檙e playing it right, most people wonB次元官网网址檛 be able to tell the difference. So, while playing perfect parts is helpful, the most crucial part is to be engaging.B次元官网网址�
Mordaunt played a Canucks game once before, back in Grade 9. He described it as a nerve-wracking experience, but also tons of fun.
B次元官网网址淗aving the Jumbotron zoom in on each personB次元官网网址檚 face, and seeing yours on that huge screen, it was like B次元官网网址楾hereB次元官网网址檚 18,000 people staring at me right now,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said with a laugh.
Emily Werner, a Grade 10 student who is leading the bass drummers in her first year with the senior team, said she worries about doing her part correctly.
B次元官网网址淏ut most of all I worry about slipping on the ice,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淚 was on the ice at a (Chilliwack) Chiefs game a few weeks ago, and fortunately it (the ice) was pretty cut up from the hockey, so it wasnB次元官网网址檛 a problem. You just have to avoid the goalie areas.B次元官网网址�
This is going to be a big time commitment for teenagers who have other things like jobs and homework to worry about, which is why the entire team or 25-30 students wonB次元官网网址檛 be going into the city. Each game will feature six or seven drum liners, B次元官网网址渃reating energy and fun for the fan experience.B次元官网网址�
TheyB次元官网网址檒l be on the concourse. TheyB次元官网网址檒l play during television advertising breaks and entertain the crowd between periods.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e not played a gig with a group that small. It sounds a lot different and you have to play a lot louder. ItB次元官网网址檚 a challenge, but itB次元官网网址檚 also exciting,B次元官网网址� said Werner, who loves songs that include lots of movement and yelling. B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 had a chance to play in front of a crowd this big either, but itB次元官网网址檚 always cool to look up and see people enjoying what youB次元官网网址檙e playing. YouB次元官网网址檙e the star of that one moment.B次元官网网址�
The ongoing gig will be a huge revenue generator. The drum line will be paid per game, with money going to equipment upgrades and repairs.
The drumline has been at Sardis secondary since the late 1990s since being developed by Bruno Gagnon.
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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