by Tom Sasvari
GORE BAY—It is a thrill of a lifetime for a Gore Bay youngster.
Eight-year-old Cameron Chaytor of Gore Bay saw his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, March 18 in the first National Hockey League (NHL) game he has attended, when they played in Ottawa against the Senators.
Cameron’s grandmother Tammy McVey took Cameron to watch their favourite team play.
“I thought the arena was so cool and way bigger than I ever thought it would be,” stated Cameron. He received a certificate to mark his first NHL game from the Canadian Tire Centre, the home of the Senators.
Cameron got to see his favourite players, Auston Matthews and second favourite, Mitch Marner, play. “The Toronto fans were so loud in the arena,” said Cameron. “You could here ‘Go Leafs Go’ the whole game.”
And what a game it was. Cameron was surprised the game went down to nine players from each team taking part in a shootout (after regulation and overtime play) to determine the Leafs as the winners. “It was the longest shoot-out of the season. With Toronto winning the game!” he stated.
Before the game Cameron and his grandmother Tammy had the opportunity to tour Ottawa and see the Parliament buildings, the Terry Fox statue, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Ottawa sign.
He loved going to see the game and says next time he wants to go to a Toronto home game.
“Thanks, Grandma, for taking me,” added Cameron.