It乌鸦传媒檚 not everyday that Willie Sellars jumps on the back of a rodeo bull.
The Williams Lake Indian Band councillor, Stampeders hockey netminder, father of three and celebrated children乌鸦传媒檚 book author shocked many in the crowd Friday evening by entering the bull riding event at the 28th Annual Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo.
And, he also garnered a little help from a fellow goaltender 乌鸦传媒� none other than the Montreal Canadiens乌鸦传媒� and Anahim Lake乌鸦传媒檚 Carey Price.
乌鸦传媒淭his was just like the fourth time in my life I乌鸦传媒檇 ridden a bull,乌鸦传媒� Sellars told the Tribune. 乌鸦传媒淎nd Carey Price is there to pull my rope. You couldn乌鸦传媒檛 have scripted it any better unless I [stayed on the eight seconds]. That was some experience for me, and having [Price] there was just a bonus.乌鸦传媒�
Sellars drew nasty C+ Rodeos bull, Ellis乌鸦传媒檚 Holy Roller.
With just one practice ride under his belt from the previous evening, Sellars said Price approached him behind the bucking chutes Friday night and asked if he could hold his rope as he prepared for his ride.
乌鸦传媒淚 was pretty pumped,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 the first time I met him, really, but I guess he knows who I am. He乌鸦传媒檚 really friendly with all the cowboys and loves rodeo like any Williams Laker, and he was keen on it, and I was stoked. It wasn乌鸦传媒檛 something that was premeditated.乌鸦传媒�
Sellars乌鸦传媒� decision to enter bull riding was inspired by an upcoming children乌鸦传媒檚 book he乌鸦传媒檚 working on: Rodeo with Dad, which will follow in the footsteps of his two previous books, Dipnetting with Dad and Hockey with Dad.
In Hockey with Dad, Sellars introduces a new character at the end named Big Brother.
乌鸦传媒淩ight now I have Older Sister and Younger Brother, but at the end of Hockey with Dad I introduce Older Brother, and he乌鸦传媒檚 going to be in Rodeo with Dad and he乌鸦传媒檚 going to be the steer rider. That乌鸦传媒檚 going to be my oldest son, so I乌鸦传媒檓 loosely basing these characters around my family.乌鸦传媒�
And what better way to work on his book, he thought, than to take in the experience first hand and to knock another challenge off his bucket list.
Competing in a big rodeo is always something he乌鸦传媒檚 wanted to do, he said.
乌鸦传媒淭his is the genesis of rodeo,乌鸦传媒� Sellars said, who drew on his athletic background in preparation.
Sellars said he was in great shape and worked hard to prepare himself as much as he could by riding horses, working on his balance and attending yoga classes for the past three months.
乌鸦传媒淚 warmed up just like I乌鸦传媒檇 warm up for a big game, and I got to take in that whole moment on the bull and with Price and I really soaked it in. I was just keen on the whole experience from start to finish and just loved it. I love rodeo.乌鸦传媒�
The moment, however, was unlike any other, he said.
乌鸦传媒淚 played really well at the Coy Cup in front of my hometown, made big saves and had some big moments in front of a packed barn, and nothing I乌鸦传媒檝e ever done even competes with the rush of bull riding. Not a single thing.乌鸦传媒�
Price was seen throughout the weekend in Williams Lake taking in the rodeos and social events as well as signing autographs and taking pictures with his many local fans.
