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Young Island hockey fan gets to hang with her hockey hero

Mackinkley Whalen, 11, wrote a B次元官网网址榞et well soonB次元官网网址 card to Ryan Kesler and got a heck of a surprise
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Mackinley Whalen, 11, recently got to watch almost a whole period of NHL hockey with her favourite player, Ryan Kesler, because of a letter she sent wishing him a speedy recovery from his injury. Photo by Mike Davies/Campbell River Mirror

One young Campbell River hockey player B次元官网网址 and fan B次元官网网址 recently had a very, very good day down in Anaheim.

Mackinley Whalen, 11, picked up on Ryan Kesler when he was a Vancouver Canuck. She wasnB次元官网网址檛 really a fan of the team B次元官网网址 her parents are both Montreal Canadiens fans, after all B次元官网网址 but she certainly did like B次元官网网址渢hat number 17 guy,B次元官网网址 she says, and when he was traded to Anaheim, her fandom followed.

B次元官网网址淚f he was traded to Toronto, IB次元官网网址檇 probably be a Leafs fan,B次元官网网址 she says.

B次元官网网址淣o you wouldnB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址 interrupts her mom April, half-jokingly.

So when Kesler went down with injury earlier this season, she decided to write him a letter wishing him a speedy recovery and letting him know they were going to be down that way with tickets to a pair of games.

B次元官网网址淎t first I was sad that you will not be playing,B次元官网网址 the letter reads, B次元官网网址渂ut I just want you to get better soon. If you are around the arena for those games and feel like some popcorn IB次元官网网址檓 willing to share mine with you.B次元官网网址

The letter included her seat number for each game.

Apparently, April had added her cell number to the letter before it was sent, because she got a text message from Kesler letting them know he planned on joining them during the Ducks/Predators game Nov. 3. She didnB次元官网网址檛 tell Mackinley, though, because she thought it would be better as a surprise.

B次元官网网址淚t was so awesome,B次元官网网址 Mackinley says. B次元官网网址淗e came down and I thought, B次元官网网址榠s this a fake person trying to tease me or a joke or something?B次元官网网址 but then he sat with me and had popcornB次元官网网址nd watched almost the full period with me.B次元官网网址

B次元官网网址淗e was so down to Earth and engaging,B次元官网网址 April says. B次元官网网址淗e was genuinely interested in everything she had to say. Even my husband said, B次元官网网址業 wanted to hate the guy, but I couldnB次元官网网址檛. He was so nice.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址

The Whalens go down to the U.S. fairly frequently to watch hockey, because itB次元官网网址檚 actually significantly less expensive than going over for a game in Vancouver.

B次元官网网址淲e can fly down to Anaheim or Florida for a game and including the flights and hotels itB次元官网网址檚 still cheaper than going to a Canucks home game,B次元官网网址 April says. B次元官网网址淵ou can get into a game down there for like $16.B次元官网网址

And while theyB次元官网网址檙e down there watching hockey, they can see some other things, as well.

B次元官网网址淢y mom made me go to Disneyland,B次元官网网址 Mackinley says. B次元官网网址淏ut I just wanted to watch hockey.B次元官网网址

Mckinley is quite the athlete herself. She plays for two local hockey teams B次元官网网址 one mixed and one girlsB次元官网网址 team B次元官网网址 as well as being as burgeoning golfer. She is currently enrolled in a golf academy in Parksville with hopes to maybe one day become a professional golfer.

B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檇 like to play hockey professionally, too,B次元官网网址 she says. B次元官网网址淚 like golf, but I love hockey. ItB次元官网网址檚 my passion.B次元官网网址





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