Game On Magazine 2017 Game On Magazine - Regular Season Edition | Page 74

›› | MINO R H OCKEY |
WITH CARTER BROOKS
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE -- He’s
widely recognized as the
greatest defenseman to ever
play the game. He twice won
the Art Ross Trophy as the
NHL’s point scoring leader.
He’s won eight consecutive
Norris Trophies as the NHL’s
best defenseman, and was
voted in as league MVP
three years straight. This
NHL legend played 10 years
for the Boston Bruins, and
two more for the Chicago
Black Hawks before knee
injuries ultimately cut his
playing career short in 1978.
If for whatever reason you
still are not sure who we are
talking about, here is one
more hint – his name rhymes
with his jersey number.
“No. 4, Bobby Orr.”
How many times has that
phrase been uttered by
public address announcers,
play-by-play and color
commentators, and hockey
fans around the world?
We’ll leave you guessing.
Fast forward 40 years
to the Triple A Bantam
1 hockey community of
Manitoba, which is currently
experiencing the second
coming of Bobby Orr.
Meet Central Plains
Capitals 14-year-old right
winger, Bobby Orr. Yes,
you read that right. Bobby
Orr of Marius, Man. (near
Sandy Bay First Nation), is a
5-foot-10, 150-pound forward
who’s playing for the local
AAA team in the middle of
southwestern Manitoba.
Orr is actually playing
high-level organized hockey
for the first time in his life this
season. After spending time
playing house-league hockey
with the Gladstone Lakers,
Orr decided to try his hand
at AAA hockey – a significant
step up and commitment
from recreational hockey.
“I’m having a lot of fun
on this team,” Orr said.
“We have a great bunch
of players who work hard,
and I have been learning
a lot from my teammates
and coaches this season.”
Orr’s teammates have
also had some learning to do
themselves, when – at the
team’s first practice – they
observed Bobby Orr pick
jersey No. 6 to wear for the
season. Although some may
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find it strange that the big,
strong forward did not choose
number four to showcase
on his sweater, there is a
perfectly suited reason as to
why number six was selected.
“There are actually a few
reasons why I wear number
six,” Orr said. “Although I
only began skating when I
was eight, my older brother
Tristan taught me how to
play the game out on the road
when I was six. Also, my Papa
was born on November 6th, so
there is that. Sadly, my little
brother passed away when he
was young, and he was the
sixth part of my family, so
I also wear No. 6 for him.”
Orr was born into a
hockey family, as his
grandfather, uncle and
older brother all played very
high-level hockey. His uncle
represented Manitoba on
various occasions, while
his grandfather spent
the majority of his career
playing professionally. And
as Bobby proudly pointed
out, he did make it to the
NHL for a few games.
“My grandpa Clifford spent
a lot of time playing in the
AHL,” he said. “He did get the
call to the NHL for a couple
of games, so that is really
cool. My dad didn’t really play
hockey, but he does like to
watch sports; my mom tries to
come to most of my games.”
Bobby’s grandfather
was instrumental in the
naming process when he
was born, some 14 years
ago. Orr explained that his
grandfather is a “really big
NO. 6, BOBBY ORR?