On July 12 at the age of 21, Jeffery Perry achieved one of his life-long dreams.
Perry notched three goals and three assists in Team CanadaB次元官网网址檚 7-4 gold-medal win over the U.S. during the U23 International roller in-line hockey championships July 8 to 12 in Corona, California.
B次元官网网址淚t was a big weight off my shoulders, IB次元官网网址檝e been trying to play for Team Canada for quite a few years and IB次元官网网址檝e always looked up to people who played for Team Canada,B次元官网网址� said the defenceman and Colwood resident, who also helped the menB次元官网网址檚 division capture gold in the same tournament.
B次元官网网址淚t was a pretty emotional thing to go and actually feel like you won something that meant so much for so many people who didnB次元官网网址檛 even have a shot to put on a jersey.B次元官网网址�
Hoisting the cup with Team Canada has been a goal of PerryB次元官网网址檚 for years, but was one he never thought he would achieve, as he was fighting a disease that sidelined him from the sport for years.
Growing up, Perry first picked up a hockey stick when he was five years old and started playing with the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association.
When he was eight years old, he played roller hockey in the spring and summer months.
But when Perry was 12 years old, things started to change. He was always tired, threw up whatever he ate, had no appetite, and started losing weight, dropping from 100 pounds to 70.
In September 2009, Perry was diagnosed with CrohnB次元官网网址檚 Disease, a bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive track, which can lead to abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.
B次元官网网址淚 was happy. We knew what it was and what we had to do next,B次元官网网址� Perry said about the diagnosis. B次元官网网址淚 never got negative about anything, it was basically picking and choosing what path I wanted to take.B次元官网网址�
Shortly after, Perry went to B.C. ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital in Vancouver where once a month for five years he received treatment in the form of an infusion. He also had a nasal gastric tube put in that goes through his nose into his stomach to help him eat. He later had surgery to put in a stomach tube.
During that time, PerryB次元官网网址檚 ice hockey teammates began to hit growth spurts, and playing a full contact sport against athletes who were 6B次元官网网址�2B次元官网网址� and 6B次元官网网址�3B次元官网网址� and weighed more than 200 pounds, became dangerous for Perry who was a mere 4B次元官网网址�7B次元官网网址�. He then made the difficult decision to stop playing.
After a year of treatment, Perry started to notice a difference in his health. He was finally starting to grow taller and gain weight and began to feel like himself. But he stayed away from ice hockey and instead started playing roller hockey again.
Perry would load his gear into a trailer attached to his bike and ride to the rink at City Centre Park in Langford, where he would spend hours practicing. Perry noted Gerry St. Cyr at the Eagle Ridge Arena allowed him to use the rink anytime he wanted.
B次元官网网址淸My love for hockey] goes back to the time I was sick, thatB次元官网网址檚 the only thing I wanted to do. It makes you forget whatB次元官网网址檚 really going on and you just live in the moment,B次元官网网址� Perry said.
B次元官网网址淲ith the adrenaline rush, you donB次元官网网址檛 feel any pain. YouB次元官网网址檙e not thinking about what happened before the game or what was going to happen after, youB次元官网网址檙e just trapped in that hour or so that youB次元官网网址檙e playing.B次元官网网址�
Nine years later he still takes medication for the disease to help keep him energized and his appetite up. Perry has grown to roughly 5B次元官网网址�8 and 169 pounds. In September 2016, he started playing professional hockey in Spain before getting the call to play with Team Canada.
During the U23 championships, alongside Cory Hatcher, a fellow West Shore product, Team Canada tied their first round robin game against USA East, but went on to defeat Hawaii and USA West. In the semi-finals, the team defeated Hawaii before moving on and defeating Team USA West in the finals.
Perry wasnB次元官网网址檛 the only one to compete at the championships. Sixteen-year-old Christian Orlowski competed with Team Canada in the U16 tournament and brought home gold after defeating USA West 3-0.
B次元官网网址淚t was surreal, a dream come true, especially to beat the USA like that, it was the classic rivalry,B次元官网网址� said Orlowski, who normally plays forward but was put in a defensive role throughout the tournament. B次元官网网址淲hen the buzzer went and our team threw our gloves and stuff, it was just awesome.B次元官网网址�
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