The Valley’s Drake Batherson of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators was a special guest at the Acadia University Hockey Honour Roll Inductions last Thursday in Wolfville
My wife Roxanne and I sat together with Drake, we shared so many great stories from when he was a kid going to Halifax Mooseheads games to scoring his first QMJHL and NHL goals.
His first Q League goal was scored on the Halifax Mooseheads at the Scotiabank Centre when Drake was playing with the Cape Breton Eagles. After the puck went in I announced, “The play is under review.” After the Referees reviewed the play, his goal counted.
Drake said “I was relieved when I heard you say that” – he went on to score another goal that night.
My wife asked him what would your goal scoring song be? Drake replied, “anything by Morgan Wallen.”
He was gracious to sign some Batherson jerseys and hockey cards of his for young fans.
He said enjoyed the Nova Scotia Showdown last October 2nd here in Halifax, Drake said “it would’ve been nice to pop one” – he did get an assist though.
He recalls being a kid going to the Mooseheads games the year the Herd won the two championships. At one game, Jonathan Drouin was on the ice and looked up in the crowd and made eye contact with Drake.
Drake asked to take a look at my Mooseheads QMJHL and Memorial Cup Championship ring, he took some video of it and texted it to Nathan MacKinnon, one of his close buddies and Nate was an instrumental player in the Herd’s big 2013 win!
We talked about the two Drakes. Our son Drake Robinson whom Drake Batherson remembers being officiated by with the Valley Wildcats on his way to the NHL.
Drake Batherson got his first name from his grandmother’s sir name Drake. When at Starbucks and he gives his name, the workers reply, “So what’s your REAL name!?”
Drake’s sister May Batherson was just drafted to Minnesota in the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Congrats Mae!
Enjoy your time at home Drake and good luck next season with the Ottawa Senators!
Ian
(Credits: Ian Robinson photos.)
