Yellowknife youth scores puck and a drink during Edmonton Oilers game

A Yellowknife youth scored big time while attending his first NHL game in Edmonton last month.

Zachary Kotokak, 8, drove to the city with his mother, Aurora Kotokak, and his siblings Tristan, Tommie and Peyton and they decided to go to a hockey game: the Edmonton Oilers versus the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Place.

But not only did they get to watch an exciting game - Zachary got to bring home one of the most important parts of the game SA国际影视传媒� an official puck.

It was a resounding SA国际影视传媒淵es!SA国际影视传媒� from Zachary when asked if he was happy to get the puck as a game souvenir, something he was happy to tell his teacher and classmates about.

It was an evening filled with a little luck and nice surprises for the family, Aurora said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was my son TristanSA国际影视传媒檚 favorite team SA国际影视传媒� the Ottawa Senators SA国际影视传媒� and we got in Row 2, right beside the penalty box for the Edmonton Oilers,SA国际影视传媒� she said of how the evening first started out. SA国际影视传媒淎nd Zachary was sitting right beside the penalty box and he made it on the (overhead) TV when Connor McDavid went in the penalty box.SA国际影视传媒�

Prior to the game, Aurora said she made a sign which read, SA国际影视传媒業 travelled from Yellowknife, NWT. This is my first NHL gameSA国际影视传媒� which they held up during the game.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey (announcers) saw the sign and mentioned that we travelled from Yellowknife to see Connor McDavid up close. That was pretty cool,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

Zachary Kotokak was one lucky fellow at the NHL hockey game between the Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers. He came away with a BioSteel sports drink and one of the official pucks used during the game. Photo courtesy of Aurora Kotokak

Scoring a keepsake

A bit more excitement happened during the course of the game, as well.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd near the third period, a puck went into the penalty box and one of the workers gave the puck to my son Zachary and he was really excited about that,SA国际影视传媒� Aurora said.

SA国际影视传媒淎t the end of the game, one of the workers in the arena told us a cool fact about the puck in how it has little dots (sensors) and they show them where the puck lands in the arena. He was really excited about that and how they were able to tell where the puck landed,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

And to end off the game for the thirsty crew, one more treat was pending, Aurora said.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll the kids had fun, and at the end of the game, they had leftover BioSteel (a sports drink) for the NHL players, so my son Zachary knocked on the penalty box and asked if he could have one, and the same guy that gave him the puck gave him BioSteel and he was really happy for that.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淎nd my son Tristan who is the Ottawa fan, he knocked on the glass as well and asked for one, and they gave him one too.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淔or me to drive by myself and I brought four of my five children. It was a really neat experience to share that with my kids,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Aurora said while they will have lasting memories of the game, the overall experience also had a deeper significance for her.

Her father, Tom Williams, who recently passed away, was a big hockey fan and played the position of goalie, as does her son Zachary, so being at the game was a reminder of him.

SA国际影视传媒淢y dad was really proud of the kids,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淗e would watch their games and tournaments and practices and cheer them on. And I know this year, he is looking down on them and just really proud of how they are doing in hockey because all my kids play hockey except for my baby.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll in all, they had a really awesome time.SA国际影视传媒�