I joined summer pickup hockey one year. I played the 1st game and realized I was in over my head. It was composed of all guys who played some higher level of competition (WHL or University hockey) and I was just out to play shinny. One guy on my own team shot the puck at me after we were scored on and told me to learn how to play hockey. Another player, some young kid, told me I suck and shouldn't be out there. He was good. My friend later told me that Kris was not happy to have me on his team. I didn't know who Kris was but apparently he was some local hotshot who was going to play for the hometown Lethbridge Hurricanes the next year. Kris Versteeg. My first interaction with him left me thinking he was a jerk.
Fast forward to when he won the Cup with Chicago and he brought it home to Lethbridge. He had an event where fans could come and get their picture with him and the cup. He was super nice and friendly and cool to my sons. Sure, it was a public event and to some degree he has to act nice, but I got the vibe that he wasn't trying hard to fake it and that he definitely grew up a lot in those 10 years.
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