Blogs from the Broadcast Booth - Les Stoodley

I’ve always believed part of the responsibility of the elders of our society was to help create, encourage and insure the dreams of our youth have the best chance of becoming a reality.

So, I was more than a little astonished a few days ago when someone related the story of a blogger, who had written a piece on the internet, filled with untruths and disparaging remarks about Kirill Kabanov.

It is not difficult to create falsehoods about anyone especially if you are not privy to the facts about them. Nor does it take a lot of intelligence to dent the character of any youth with gossip.

I wonder if the writer of the piece about the Moncton Wildcats left winger will read this offering, however, I feel compelled to present some facts about this 17 year old young man that I know to be true.

Kirill was born in Moscow, Russia. He graduated high school when he was 15 years old. He is gifted with a unique ability to play hockey, so gifted in fact he was playing as a professional in his home country when he was only 16 years old. This highly intelligent young man speaks two languages and is learning a third. In fact he shocked a long time RDS reporter last week, when during an interview, he replied in French.

Young Mr. Kabanov has a dream, he’s had that dream since he was a little boy. His dream is not unlike that of many young Canadian boys, to play in the National Hockey League. He is convinced the direction he needs to achieve that dream is to play Major Junior Hockey in Canada.

Many people with far more knowledge of the game than this writer believe Kirill Kabanov could be a super-star in the NHL. There is no disputing Kabanov’s desire to be a NHL hockey player. He believes his dream with such fervor that he turned his back on a lucrative professional career in his own country, left his family behind, and travelled half way around the world to join the Moncton Wildcats, the organization he believes will speed his dream to a reality.

The reason this very talented player is in Moncton is because he was so highly rated as NHL potential by the scouts who rank players. Danny Flynn, the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations saw him play in an international, under 17, tournament last year. Mr. Flynn, known as one of the most astute judges of young hockey talent in North America, along with Wildcats President Robert Irving, decided to draft Kabanov and bring him here to play.

After waiting six weeks while a protracted battle with the KHL the Russian professional hockey league and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) was waged to secure his rights, Kirill Kabanov signed with the Wildcats and scored his first QMJHL goal in the first period of his first game on October 10th.

Here are some other things I’ve learned about Kirill since I met him at the Moncton airport the August night he arrived in our city. He’s a typical 17 year old, being a father of two sons, I speak with some experience. He has the enthusiasm of every young person I’ve met over my 60 plus years. He delights in being around people, is constantly having fun with his teammates, and takes direction with appreciation. I watched following a recent game when the Cats coaching staff showed him video of his play and pointed out how he could improve. He not only smiled and agreed with them, he shook their hands and said, “Thank you”. He loves his family. Let me illustrate, I did an interview with him for our Wildcats website as he prepared for his first game. Two days later he came to me asking for a DVD of our conversation, he wanted it to send to his mother in Moscow. The Wildcats organization made sure he got that DVD and I’m certain his mother was proud and delighted with the manner in which her son conducted himself.

I also know that NHL scouts are flocking to the Moncton Coliseum and other rinks around the Q to see this young Russian player. At a game last week, no less than 12 scouts from the pro ranks were in attendance.

As the team’s broadcaster, there are only a few little things I can do to foster the dreams of Kirill Kabanov. I can share with my audience, interviews and comments about his hockey abilities and his dream. My job is not only to call the play of the Wildcats but to give understanding, support and encouragement to young men such as Kirill as they build their hockey dreams. I’ve had a chance to do that with many former Wildcats, whom I consider friends, outstanding young men, such as Steve Bernier, Corey Crawford, Josh Tordjman, Adam Pineault, Chris Gaudet, Bruce Graham, Martins Karsums, Philippe Dupuis and many others, over the past seven seasons.

What a unique responsibility and pleasure is mine.