Young hockey player’s sad story may have a happy ending
KELOWNA – It appears the story of the nine-year-old boy who quit his hockey team in tears after being repeatedly benched, may have a happy ending after all.
Our story about Sam Lescarbeau has gone truly viral with people from all over Canada writing to encourage him, share similar stories from all manner of sports teams and remind coaches that sports is supposed to be fun.
The story also got attention from the big leagues and another hockey team encouraging him to come back.
The Okanagan All Stars Hockey Club offered him a spot on its 2015 team.
“Although Sam certainly did not enjoy his situation and wanted to leave hockey, we reached out and offered Sam a spot… so he could finish the spring season on a good note and he happily accepted,” said Kim Dobranski in an email. “The 2015 team is welcoming him with open arms and we will ensure his passion and love for the game is not lost on this incident.”
Ray Petkau, a certified player agent with the National Hockey League Players Association based in Manitoba, said he read about Sam’s situation and wanted to do something.
“I’d like to get the kid rubbing shoulders with some NHL guys, maybe get him a jersey,” he said. “I hate to have him with a taste in his mouth like that. It’s a great sport and I’d like to help the young man out.”
He puts on NET360 goalie and shooter camp featuring a roster of NHL goalies including James Reimer (Toronto Maple Leafs), Devan Dubnyk (Minnesota Wild), Thomas Greiss (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Nathan Lieuwen (Buffalo Sabres). Firing pucks at them will be the likes of Andrew Ladd (Winnipeg Jets), Victor Bartley (Nashville Predators) and Brad Hunt (Edmonton Oilers).
Yannick Lescarbeau, Sam’s father, again declined to be interviewed, although he said he thought Sam would be thrilled with the chance to meet some NHL players.
“We will continue to handle this privately, but appreciate the community support,” said Lescarbeau, in an email.
It was his open letter to the other parents and players on the West Kelowna Knights about the reasons Sam was quitting that started the story and fuelled debate about the win-at-all-costs attitude of some coaches that leaves some players benched for long stretches.
While most thought the attitude was detrimental to such young players, other’s thought the practise was motivational and a taste for hockey hopefuls of what life is like at the upper levels of the sport.
Petkau said there is obviously a point where the best players are separated from the rest but that parents and coaches too focussed on winning are doing it to players who are too young.
"Every player should enjoy the game, be it as a youth player, in house league or the NHL and every level in between. It is, after all a game," he said.
He added that regular ice time can make a world of difference to a young player's confidence, regardless of their skill level.
"Often the only difference between a good player and a less talented player is confidence or at least confidence can be the difference between improving and just being there. Allow them to have fun and give them a reason to believe in themselves and it's incredible what that can do," Petkau said.
Dobranksi said Sam’s previous coaches are decent people who had made the best decisions they could under the circumstances.
"There are always moments that we look back on and wish we could revisit certain decisions and all of us coaches have them.”
Indeed, Lescarbeau himself, in his letter to parents emphasized he did not blame the coaches but also did not share their hockey philosophy.
To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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15 responses
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is the year correct..is it seems 2005 should read 2015….or is this an old story..either way….its not the pros…he has the right to play…not everyone is going to make the pros…and who knows…maybe he will.
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When I played hockey ( late 50’s early 60’s ) we all had equal time on the ice; if you were good enough for getting a taste of higher level hockey where performance really counted, then you were promoted to the All-Star Team.
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I am so impressed with Sam.As a 9 year old to have the courage and the ‘knards’ to make that decision and to stand up for what he believes is very special.I hope more 9 year olds will see that even at a young age YOU MATTER.Further the way his father is handling this is also exemplary and setting a tall example for all adults involved in sports and their kids lives.To show such grace is an example for all parents and especially Sam and his team mates.Sam is a very fortunate boy to have such a role model.Kudos to both of you.
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Yes Sam was born in 2005 and we have 13 teams, one of them being a team for kids born in 2005.
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At that age its too young, I guess its been 20 years or so since I played at that age, but whatever happened to the horn that blew every two minutes forcing play to stop and each team to change lines to ensure equal playing opportunity to each kid?
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I have a 9 year old son as well, and I admire the restraint of Sam’s father. I would have probably lost my shit had I been part of this (out of the view of my son of course). At this age everyone is involved and given every confidence booster they can get That picture breaks my heart.
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Chris, you are 100% correct. In Scotland, it’s a genuine battle to stop this practice and let kids play. The drop out rate in Scotland for kids is very high precisely for this reason. Moves are afoot for positive change, but ‘benching’ even in so called development games has to be seen to be believed.
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The volunteers should be trained to coach the kids in all sports and the philosophy of the league should be followed regardless of the volunteers own philosophy.Coaching clinics are getting mandatory but are they being observed once the season starts?Bad coaches are bad for business when the children don’t return.
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Everyone pays the same fee & should get the same ice time….play the game….teach sportsmanship…..forget the “have to win” attitude. Set a good example for the kids….all the kids, regardless of how “skilled or unskilled” they are!
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Well there you go he found team that shared his philosophy and that it is what it is all about.All kids can play hockey just need to find the right fit.Okanagan Allstars is a good place to go for him.They focus on development and the ice is very even. Hopefully all this negativity towards hockey and misplaced towards the coaches will go away.
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Every thing was written perfectly. I myself a grandmother of 4 boys that love sports have watched listened and truly have seen this happening. I think a parent should.be standing up and saying give the other players a time on the ice or field , But to no avail these parents get it in their head their child is the best..so keep him in ,, It is wrong all kids should be treated equal at all costs.
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