The capacity of Rogers Arena in Vancouver is 18,910, and thousands more watch Vancouver Canucks games on TV.
All of those eyeballs will see the Sardis secondary school Drumline in action during the 2021-22 National Hockey League season. Members of the drumline will be travelling into Vancouver for each of the 41 Canucks home games, starting with a Tuesday night (Oct. 26) game against the Minnesota Wild.
The Chilliwack youths will be performing on the ice and on the concourse.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 an awesome press opportunity for us,乌鸦传媒� said Grade 12 student Thomas Mordaunt, one of the 乌鸦传媒榲eterans乌鸦传媒� on the young team. 乌鸦传媒淭he drumline played at the 2012 (Winter) Olympics (in Vancouver), and played some Canucks games around 10 years ago too, so it feels like we乌鸦传媒檙e going to be bringing the drumline back up to that level after being in a lull for a few years.乌鸦传媒�
Nervous members of the team gathered Friday after school for a rehearsal, and journeyed to Abbotsford that night for an appearance at the Abbotsford Canucks home opener. With so many new members, every moment of prep counts before hitting the big stage.
乌鸦传媒淎bout half our the group is returning from last year,乌鸦传媒� Mordaunt said. 乌鸦传媒淭he entire bass drum line is new. About half the cymbals, almost all the tenors and two or three snares are all new.
乌鸦传媒淏ut what I乌鸦传媒檝e always told everyone is, 乌鸦传媒楴obody cares how good you play. All that they care about is how well you entertain. If you have lots of energy and look like you乌鸦传媒檙e playing it right, most people won乌鸦传媒檛 be able to tell the difference. So, while playing perfect parts is helpful, the most crucial part is to be engaging.乌鸦传媒�
Mordaunt played a Canucks game once before, back in Grade 9. He described it as a nerve-wracking experience, but also tons of fun.
乌鸦传媒淗aving the Jumbotron zoom in on each person乌鸦传媒檚 face, and seeing yours on that huge screen, it was like 乌鸦传媒楾here乌鸦传媒檚 18,000 people staring at me right now,乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕 he said with a laugh.
Emily Werner, a Grade 10 student who is leading the bass drummers in her first year with the senior team, said she worries about doing her part correctly.
乌鸦传媒淏ut most of all I worry about slipping on the ice,乌鸦传媒� she added. 乌鸦传媒淚 was on the ice at a (Chilliwack) Chiefs game a few weeks ago, and fortunately it (the ice) was pretty cut up from the hockey, so it wasn乌鸦传媒檛 a problem. You just have to avoid the goalie areas.乌鸦传媒�
This is going to be a big time commitment for teenagers who have other things like jobs and homework to worry about, which is why the entire team or 25-30 students won乌鸦传媒檛 be going into the city. Each game will feature six or seven drum liners, 乌鸦传媒渃reating energy and fun for the fan experience.乌鸦传媒�
They乌鸦传媒檒l be on the concourse. They乌鸦传媒檒l play during television advertising breaks and entertain the crowd between periods.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e not played a gig with a group that small. It sounds a lot different and you have to play a lot louder. It乌鸦传媒檚 a challenge, but it乌鸦传媒檚 also exciting,乌鸦传媒� said Werner, who loves songs that include lots of movement and yelling. 乌鸦传媒淚 haven乌鸦传媒檛 had a chance to play in front of a crowd this big either, but it乌鸦传媒檚 always cool to look up and see people enjoying what you乌鸦传媒檙e playing. You乌鸦传媒檙e the star of that one moment.乌鸦传媒�
The ongoing gig will be a huge revenue generator. The drum line will be paid per game, with money going to equipment upgrades and repairs.
The drumline has been at Sardis secondary since the late 1990s since being developed by Bruno Gagnon.
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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